Beat Nitrogen Pollution

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Four reasons why the world needs to limit nitrogen pollution

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Why too much nitrogen is a bad thing.

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Sources of nitrogen pollution

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Facts about nitrogen pollution

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Nitrogen pollution is like a dark, hidden secret. Although nitrogen is an essential element to support life, too much reactive nitrogen poses a serious risk to the environment threatening the climate, nature, and human health. Nitrogen pollution is one of the most pressing pollution issues to date, but the problem is no one is talking about it.

To raise the alarm on nitrogen pollution…

Governments, industry, and individuals must advocate for sustainable nitrogen management. This means tackling excess nitrogen and balancing its efficient production and consumption to avoid inefficient usage. Solutions exist, and more are in development. But they are widely unknown. Stronger communication and advocacy can help set the agenda to combat nitrogen pollution.

Ambitious actions and strategies

#BeatNitrogenPollution calls for a stronger, more agile, innovative, and forward-looking presence to engage governments, industry, and individuals to adopt an integrated approach towards improving our management of the nitrogen cycle to avoid inefficiencies and waste.

 

Political momentum for collective action on nitrogen is increasing. In 2019, the UN Environment Assembly - the world’s foremost environmental decision-making body - adopted a resolution calling for sustainable nitrogen management, and in 2022, a second resolution was adopted.

Act

“Nitrogen challenge fits squarely within the triple planetary crisis. We can improve the performance of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, boost recycling of nutrients from agriculture, improve wastewater treatment, and reduce food waste." - Inger Anderson

Sustainable nitrogen management is vital to live in harmony with nature on a planet that is pollution-free and climate-stable. Over the past century, reactive nitrogen levels have doubled, contributing to the decline in biodiversity and growth of dead zones in coastal areas as a result from agricultural run-off. The new Global Biodiversity Framework has set a specific target to halve nitrogen waste by 2030 through more efficient nutrient cycling and use. Working towards this target is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and securing a cleaner, healthier environment for future generations.

 

Governments

Government institutions can take action by:

  • Accelerating actions to significantly reduce nitrogen waste globally by 2030 and beyond through sustainable nitrogen management.
  • Sharing information on existing national action plans and strategies, where available
  • Improving report and data collection capacities to identify nitrogen pollution and address its sources.
  • Adopt an integrated approach that deals with all stages of the nitrogen cycle, where possible.

Businesses and Investors

Banking institutions, businesses operating within the agricultural, fertilizer, and livestock industries, and small-scale farmers play a key role in balancing the production and consumption of nitrogen. Businesses and investors can take action by:

  • Investing in agro-ecological systems and nature-based solutions.
  • Improving nutrient management in crop production and in the livestock sector.
  • Investing in the recovery of nutrients from wastewater and livestock waste, thereby closing the circle and enhancing the efficient use of fertilizers.
  • Embracing sustainable agriculture techniques to preserve soil fertility, prevent pollution, and protect biodiversity.

Individuals

Individuals have power in their voice and community gathering to raise the profile on the negative impacts from nitrogen pollution. Some actions individuals can take include:

  • Altering dietary choices to reduce the consumption of meat, diary, and eggs which can lower nitrogen emissions.
  • Avoiding food waste.
  • Advocating for the reduction of nitrogen pollution.
Partnerships
UNEP’s advocacy campaigns and related initiatives are mediums to promote change, engage diverse voices, showcase best practices, and transform habits, practices, standards and policies around the globe.

Initiatives to Follow

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Beat Pollution aims to build and nurture a larger narrative on a pollution-free planet that weaves interrelated aspects of climate and nature and connects different forms of pollution to the larger issue of pollution and waste. The goal is to optimize human health and environmental outcomes through enhanced capacity and leadership in the sound management of chemicals and waste and increasing circular processes.

FORMS OF POLLUTION

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