Nitrous oxide, a study shows a 40% increase in emissions over the last 40 years

Tian H., (…), Regnier P. et al.

Earth System Science Data: link

Carbon Brief: link

A study coordinated by the Global Carbon Project in which the BGEOSYS group (Pierre Regnier, Department of Geosciences, Environment and Society) participated, reveals that nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions have increased by 40% during the period 1980-2020, strongly accelerating climate change.

Emissions of N2O to the atmosphere – a greenhouse gas with a much greater warming power than CO2 and CH4 – increased relentlessly between 1980 and 2020, reaching more than 10 million tonnes today, mainly due to agricultural practices. 

A study carried out under the auspices of the Global Carbon Project and published in the journal “Earth System Science Data” highlights that 74% of anthropogenic emissions are linked to agricultural production (2010-2020), reaching values never observed before. This excess nitrogen contributes to soil, water and air pollution. In the atmosphere, it contributes to the destruction of the ozone layer and exacerbates climate change.