India is world’s second largest emitter of nitrous oxide

Sub: Environment

Section: Pollution

India’s Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Emissions:

India is the second-largest emitter of N2O, contributing nearly 11% of global man-made emissions in 2020, behind China at 16%.
- The top five country emitters by volume of anthropogenic N2O emissions in 2020 were China (16.7%), India (10.9%), the United States (5.7%), Brazil (5.3%), and Russia (4.6%).
The primary source of N2O emissions in India is from the use of nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture.
Factors Driving Emissions:
- Increasing meat and dairy production leads to higher N2O emissions from manure and nitrogen fertilizers used in animal feed production.
- Agricultural emissions continue to rise, whereas emissions from fossil fuels and the chemical industry are stabilizing or declining.

Atmospheric Concentrations:

The atmospheric concentration of N2O reached 336 parts per billion in 2022, 25% above pre-industrial levels.
In comparison, CO2 concentration was 417 parts per million in 2022.
While CO2 reduction remains a major focus, the rapid increase and long atmospheric lifespan of N2O highlight the need for urgent mitigation efforts.

Impact of Nitrogen Fertilizers

N2O emissions from human activities have surged by 40% over the past four decades, with a notable acceleration between 2020 and 2022.
Agricultural activities, particularly the use of nitrogen fertilizers and animal manure, account for 74% of anthropogenic N2O emissions.
N2O emissions are responsible for 6.4% of the effective radiative forcing of greenhouse gases, adding approximately 0.1°C to global warming.

Emission Trends and Projections

IPCC Findings: Recent N2O concentration levels surpass the most pessimistic IPCC scenarios, potentially leading to global temperatures exceeding 3°C by century’s end.
Paris Agreement Goals: To meet net-zero targets and stabilize global temperatures below 2°C, anthropogenic N2O emissions must decline by at least 20% from 2019 levels by 2050.

Environmental and Health Impact:

N2O remains in the atmosphere for approximately 117 years, affecting climate and ozone.
Inefficient use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and animal manure also pollutes groundwater, drinking water, and coastal waters.

Greenhouse gases:

The major greenhouse gases are water vapour, which causes about 36–70% of the greenhouse effect; carbon dioxide (CO2), which causes 9–26%; methane (CH4), which causes 4–9%; nitrous oxide (N2O) that accounts for about 5.6 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities and ozone (O3), which causes 3–7%.

Call to Action

Report Insights: The report underscores the urgency for India to address N2O emissions from heavily subsidized nitrogen fertilizers.
Policy Recommendation: Experts suggest repurposing fertilizer subsidies to support alternative agricultural practices and reduce N2O emissions.

Source: TH