#Nitrogen4NetZero is a developing international initiative that highlights the need for sustainable nitrogen management as part of climate change mitigation and adaptation. The initiative has been developed by the GEF-funded project towards the establishment of an International Nitrogen Management System (INMS), implemented by UNEP and executed by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Since 2017, INMS has been developing as a science support system for international nitrogen policy, raising the profile of the Nitrogen Challenge. The programme of INMS includes developing tools and knowledge for sustainable nitrogen management across major world regions, together with awareness-raising and policy engagement.
The greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide, has a global warming potential over a 100-year period around 265 to 298 times that of carbon dioxide. Therefore, small changes in nitrous oxide emissions can have a large impact on the climate. This means that reaching Net Zero is impossible without managing nitrogen pollution.
Poor fertiliser and manure management can greatly increase the climate impact of food production through increased nitrous oxide emissions and interactions with soil organic matter to increase carbon dioxide flux. In addition to the effect on global warming, increasing nitrous oxide emissions from human sources also contribute to thinning of the ozone layer (stratospheric ozone depletion). However, there are limited technical measures specifically to reduce nitrous oxide. Controlling nitrous oxide emissions therefore requires a system-wide change to the way that humans manage the global nitrogen cycle.
By embracing a nitrogen-cycle perspective, sustainable nitrogen management for climate mitigation and adaptation simultaneously provides quantifiable co-benefits for freshwater quality, coastal zones, air quality and stratospheric ozone depletion. In addition, there are substantial financial benefits, as expressed in the Colombo Declaration ambition to ‘halve nitrogen waste’ from all sources, which offers the opportunity to save US$100 billion annually. An increased focus on nitrogen thus offers a key tool for a post-COVID world to stimulate green economic recovery, while helping to meet climate targets and multiple sustainable development goals.
The #Nitrogen4NetZero initiative was launched during the “Nitrogen for Climate and Green Recovery” virtual event hosted by the British High Commission Colombo and the Government of Sri Lanka, supported by INMS. This event brought together ministers from across South Asia with representatives from different UN conventions,researchers, industry and NGOs to discuss the multiple implications of the nitrogen challenge. During a closed session with policy makers, governments from South Asia agreed the #Nitrogen4NetZero proposal for COP26, preparing the way to widen engagement on the pathway to the Glasgow climate conference.
A key moment for the #Nitrogen4NetZero initiative was the co-hosting of the “Rediscovering Nitrogen” event by the Government of Sri Lanka and INMS on the first day of COP26 in Glasgow (31st of October). This high profile side-event at the historic Merchants House included a key note address by H.E. The President of Sri Lanka and was also attended by H.E. The President of the Maldives. The event informed COP26 delegates about the need to address nitrogen as part of climate action, including Ministerial speeches from Sri Lanka, UK and Germany, as well as from Commonwealth Secretary General and the Director General of the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP). The event which was chaired by the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland, highlighted the need for leadership on nitrogen action to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
While at COP26, INMS Director Prof. Mark Sutton took the opportunity to speak to BBC World News, enabling millions around the world to hear about the nitrogen challenge.
Following the April 2021 meeting, the #Nitrogen4NetZero proposal to #COP26 was mobilized by SACEP among its member countries. The revised text under the heading “Statement for Action on Nitrogen for Climate” was then published by the Government of Sri Lanka on 5th November to inform the #COP26 discussions, and is available here:
In the end, it proved impossible to get this proposal included in the outcome documents for #COP26 itself. However, it was known already at the very beginning that this would be extremely difficult. What is more important is that the case for action on nitrogen and climate has now been made very visible by INMS and partner countries in the context of COP26. With the “Rediscovering Nitrogen” event, BBC World News interview, and linked articles in the Science, The Guardian, The Times, The Independent and New Scientist, it is now apparent to millions that action on nitrogen is needed. Together with active social media engagement by @TowardsINMS and @MarkNitrogen at #COP26, the stage is now set for more sustained activities in the run up to #COP27 in Egypt and beyond.
In case that was not enough during COP26, INMS was able to support the Government of Sri Lanka in bringing a proposal for a new Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management to the UNEP Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) in preparation for the Fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA5.2). The resolution looks to embrace elements from the Colombo Declaration, building on the leadership from India to the first resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management adopted at UNEA-4 in March 2019 (UNEP/EA.4/Res.14). Naturally this was only possible because of e-technology as INMS and Sri Lankan delegates joined the meeting in e-Nairobi from the wings of COP26 in Glasgow.
About the INMS Project
For more information on the GEF-UNEP/UKCEH INMS Project, please contact the Project Manager Nicole Read (inms@ceh.ac.uk), visit the project website, the #Nitrogen4NetZero page and the project page on iwlearn.net. You can also follow Prof. Mark Sutton @MarkNitrogen and the GEF INMS Project @TowardsINMS on Twitter or watch out for #Nitrogen4NetZero.
© 2026 IW:LEARN
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