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Agriculture Drives Rise In Nitrous Oxide Emissions Over Past 40 Years

"Nitrogen fertilisers, manure and other agricultural sources drove almost three-quarters of human-caused nitrous oxide emissions in recent years.

That is according to the Global Carbon Project’s second “global nitrogen budget” – an assessment of the origins and climate impacts of the world’s nitrous oxide emissions.

The research, published in Earth System Science Data, finds that nitrous oxide emissions from human activities rose by 40% over the past four decades, partly driven by growing global demand for meat and dairy.

Nitrous oxide emissions over the past decade exceeded even the highest projected levels in emissions pathways, the research finds.

Continuing to emit the greenhouse gas at current rates would “really affect” the world’s ability to achieve the long-term goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to “well below” 2C, the lead author of the study tells Carbon Brief."

Orla Dwyer reports for Carbon Brief June 11, 2024.

Source: Carbon Brief, 06/13/2024