Global agricultural N2O emission reduction strategies deliver climate benefits with minimal impact on stratospheric O3 recovery

Weber, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0643-2026, Keeble, J., Luke Abraham, N., Beerling, D. J. and Val Martin, M. (2024) Global agricultural N2O emission reduction strategies deliver climate benefits with minimal impact on stratospheric O3 recovery. npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, 7. 121. ISSN 2397-3722 doi: 10.1038/s41612-024-00678-2

Abstract/Summary

Agricultural nitrous oxide (N2O) emission reduction strategies are required given the potency of N2O as a greenhouse gas. However, the growing influence of N2O on stratospheric ozone (O3) with declining stratospheric chlorine means the wider atmospheric impact of N2O reductions requires investigation. We calculate a N2O emission reduction of 1.35 TgN2O yr-1 (~5% of 2020 emissions) using spatially separate deployment of nitrification inhibitors ($70–113 tCO2e−1) and crushed basalt (no-cost co-benefit) which also sequesters CO2. In Earth System model simulations for 2025–2075 under high (SSP3-7.0) and low (SSP1-2.6) surface warming scenarios, this N2O mitigation reduces NOx-driven O3 destruction, driving regional stratospheric O3 increases but with minimal impact on total O3 column recovery. By 2075, the radiative forcing of the combined N2O and CO2 reductions equates to a beneficial 9–11 ppm CO2 removal. Our results support targeted agricultural N2O emission reductions for helping nations reach net-zero without hindering O3 recovery.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/119863
Identification Number/DOI	10.1038/s41612-024-00678-2
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Publisher	Nature Publishing Group
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