Primer on Anthropogenic Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas and an ozone-depleting substance (ODS). Its global warming potential over 100 years is 273 times greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO2). To slow self-amplifying feedbacks and avoid irreversible climate tipping points, the world must quickly cut global human-caused N2O emissions as part of any fast climate mitigation strategy. Because N2O is the most significant ODS not yet regulated by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, there is a strong case for adding it to the treaty, at least to control industrial emissions.

While mitigation technology and global attention to N2O are improving, more action is needed to accelerate N2O mitigation. This N2O Primer provides background for a global campaign to reduce N2O emissions. The Primer explains the anthropogenic sources of N2O, explains the benefits of reducing N2O emissions, describes the available cost-effective methods to cut N2O emissions, provides an overview of global governance regimes and initiatives that address N2O, and offers suggestions for strengthening global governance.