Cost of N2O release from human activities to the environment

Nitrous oxide is currently the most significant ozone-depleting substance released to the atmosphere, and third most important greenhouse gas for radiative forcing. Global emissions of N2O are accelerating, and unmitigated, N2O will continue to deplete stratospheric ozone and undermine the gains of the Montreal Protocol. Current efforts to manage N2O could be organized around understanding current methods underpinning the social cost of nitrous oxide and nitrogen pollution writ large, as well as how estimates could be updated to better reflect the latest scientific understanding. This presentation will focus on the how the current estimates of damage costs could be improved by integrating stratospheric ozone damages associated with N2O.

Impact/Purpose

International Nitrogen Initiative’s (INI) North American Center Workshop (Feb. 25). PESD’s Jana Compton will participate in this workshop that will focus on the Social Cost of nitrous oxide (N2O) for US policymaking. This workshop will be organized around understanding current methods underpinning the social cost of nitrous oxide and nitrogen pollution writ large, as well as how estimates could be updated to better reflect the latest scientific understanding. Jana was invited to present on the how the current estimate could be improved by integrating stratospheric ozone damages associated with N2O. The key aims of the INI are to optimize nitrogen’s beneficial role in sustainable food production, and minimize nitrogen’s negative effects on human health and the environment resulting from food and energy production. The North American Nitrogen Center is charged with assessing how human activity has altered nitrogen flows within North America, determining the environmental, human health, and economic consequences of this alteration, and helping to develop solutions to reduce the problem.

Citation

Compton, J. Cost of N2O release from human activities to the environment. International Nitrogen Initiative, Social Cost of Nitrous Oxide (N2O), na, February 25, 2021.