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ArticleA comprehensive quantification of global nitrous oxide sources and sinks
Nature, published on 07 October 2020, Volume 586, pages 248–256
2020Also available in:
No results found.Nitrous oxide (N2O), like carbon dioxide, is a long-lived greenhouse gas that accumulates in the atmosphere. Over the past 150 years, increasing atmospheric N2O concentrations have contributed to stratospheric ozone depletion1 and climate change2, with the current rate of increase estimated at 2 per cent per decade. Existing national inventories do not provide a full picture of N2O emissions, owing to their omission of natural sources and limitations in methodology for attributing anthropogenic sources. Here we present a global N2O inventory that incorporates both natural and anthropogenic sources and accounts for the interaction between nitrogen additions and the biochemical processes that control N2O emissions. We use bottom-up (inventory, statistical extrapolation of flux measurements, process based land and ocean modelling) and top-down (atmospheric inversion) approaches to provide a comprehensive quantification of global N2O sources and sinks resulting from 21 natural and human sectors between 1980 and 2016. Global N2O emissions were 17.0 (minimum–maximum estimates: 12.2–23.5) teragrams of nitrogen per year (bottom-up) and 16.9 (15.9–17.7) teragrams of nitrogen per year (top-down) between 2007 and 2016. Global human-induced emissions, which are dominated by nitrogen additions to croplands, increased by 30% over the past four decades to 7.3 (4.2–11.4) teragrams of nitrogen per year. This increase was mainly responsible for the growth in the atmospheric burden. Our findings point to growing N2O emissions in emerging economies—particularly Brazil, China and India. Analysis of process-based model estimates reveals an emerging N2O–climate feedback resulting from interactions between nitrogen additions and climate change. The recent growth in N2O emissions exceeds some of the highest projected emission scenarios3,4, underscoring the urgency to mitigate N2O emissions. -
Brochure, flyer, fact-sheetThe Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM)
Quantifying options for low greenhouse gas emissions along livestock supply chains
2024Also available in:
No results found.The FAO Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM) is a modelling framework that simulates the interactions between livestock production activities and the environment. By quantifying production and the use of natural resources in the livestock sector, GLEAM serves as a crucial tool for policymakers to assess the environmental impacts of livestock supply chains and to identify adaptation and mitigation interventions. This document summarizes and presents highlights and pbjectives of the project "GLEAM-X: web application to support thesustainable transformation towards low carbon livestock", implemented by FAO and founded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Germany, -
Book (series)Green recovery in agrifood chains through sustainable energy interventions 2025
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No results found.This report delves into the potential of renewable energy interventions within the agrifood value chains of Zambia, with a specific focus on cereals, dairy, horticulture, tobacco, fisheries, and roots and tubers. It furthermore aims to evaluate the feasibility of various renewable energy interventions, such as solar irrigation, solar drying, solar milling, solar freezing, and e-mobility. The evaluation encompasses the technical, economic, and environmental aspects, with the objective to quantify their impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, capital investment, and productivity.The findings of the report emphasize the positive impact of renewable energy interventions on the agrifood sector in Zambia, while illustrating the benefits, such as reduced GHG emissions, improved energy access and security, enhanced food quality and safety, as well as increased income and employment opportunities. In addition, the report underscores the significance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to facilitate the adoption and scaling up of renewable energy interventions. The detailed analysis of energy use and demand within the selected agrifood value chains, coupled with the proposed renewable energy interventions, stresses the potential to enhance sustainability and efficiency across these sectors. Moreover, the report's focus on a household energy survey conducted in the Meheba refugee camp puts an emphasis on a holistic understanding of the energy needs and preferences of the refugee settlement.
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