BOOK
Human Acceleration of the Nitrogen Cycle
(2019)
Additional Information
Book Details
Abstract
This publication examines the risks associated with the release of excessive nitrogen into the environment (climate change, depletion of the ozone layer, air pollution, water pollution, loss of biodiversity, deterioration of soil quality). The report also examines the uncertainty associated with the ability of nitrogen to move from one ecosystem to another and cause "cascading effects". In addition to better management of nitrogen risks at the local level, there is a need to consider the global risks associated with the continued increase in nitrous oxide concentrations and to prevent excess nitrogen in all its forms by developing cost-effective strategies for all its sources. Other than the reduction of nitrogen pollution, this report provides guidance on the use of nitrogen policy instruments and how to ensure coherence with objectives such as food security, energy security and environmental objectives.
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cover | Cover | ||
| Table of contents | 7 | ||
| Abbreviations | 13 | ||
| Executive summary | 17 | ||
| Chapter 1. Why does nitrogen matter? | 19 | ||
| 1.1 A doubling of global nitrogen fixation since pre-industrial time | 20 | ||
| 1.2 An essential nutrient, but a potential pollutant | 21 | ||
| 1.3 Nitrogen has multiple sources | 22 | ||
| 1.4 ...multiple pathways | 24 | ||
| 1.4.1 Air | 24 | ||
| 1.4.2 Greenhouse balance and ozone layer | 25 | ||
| 1.4.3 Water | 26 | ||
| 1.4.4 Ecosystems and biodiversity | 28 | ||
| 1.4.5 Soil | 29 | ||
| 1.5 ...and multiple impacts | 30 | ||
| 1.5.1 Air quality | 30 | ||
| 1.5.2 Greenhouse balance and ozone layer | 31 | ||
| 1.5.3 Water quality | 31 | ||
| 1.5.4 Ecosystems and biodiversity | 32 | ||
| 1.5.5 Soil quality | 33 | ||
| 1.6 The “nitrogen cascade” | 33 | ||
| Notes | 36 | ||
| References | 38 | ||
| Chapter 2. Proposed approach to address nitrogen pollution | 41 | ||
| 2.1 The risk approach | 43 | ||
| 2.1.1 The different nitrogen risks | 43 | ||
| 2.1.2 Deepening pathway analysis to better manage risks of nitrogen pollution | 44 | ||
| 2.1.3 Feasibility of the risk approach | 54 | ||
| 2.1.4 The case of nitrous oxide (N2O) | 55 | ||
| 2.2 The “precautionary” approach | 56 | ||
| Notes | 65 | ||
| References | 67 | ||
| Chapter 3. Examples of impact-pathway analysis and its translation into policy-making | 71 | ||
| 3.1 Case study 1: Impact-Pathway Analysis (IPA) and air pollution | 72 | ||
| 3.1.1 Urban air pollution | 72 | ||
| 3.1.2 Eutrophication of terrestrial ecosystems | 74 | ||
| 3.1.3 Policy relevance of IPA for air pollution risk management | 75 | ||
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 75 | ||
| Nitrogen aerosols | 76 | ||
| Ground-level ozone (GLO) | 78 | ||
| 3.2 Case study 2: Impact-Pathway Analysis (IPA) and water pollution | 80 | ||
| 3.2.1 Coastal water pollution | 80 | ||
| 3.2.2 Lake water pollution | 83 | ||
| 3.2.3 Groundwater contamination | 85 | ||
| 3.2.4 Policy relevance of IPA for water pollution risk management | 88 | ||
| Notes | 92 | ||
| References | 94 | ||
| Chapter 4. The unintended consequences on the nitrogen cycle of conservation practises in agriculture | 97 | ||
| 4.1 Managing nitrogen for agriculture and the environment | 98 | ||
| 4.2 Nitrogen pathways in crop production | 99 | ||
| 4.3 Nitrogen pathways in animal production | 100 | ||
| 4.4 Conservation practices and the nitrogen cycle | 101 | ||
| 4.4.1 Nutrient management | 102 | ||
| 4.4.2 Tillage | 103 | ||
| 4.4.3 Cover crops | 104 | ||
| 4.4.4 Filter strips | 104 | ||
| 4.4.5 Restored wetlands | 104 | ||
| 4.4.6 Field drainage | 104 | ||
| 4.4.7 Chemical additions to manure | 105 | ||
| 4.4.8 Tank covers | 105 | ||
| 4.4.9 Slurry lagoon covers | 105 | ||
| 4.4.10 Manure incorporation and injection | 105 | ||
| 4.5 Changing nutrient management on cropland may result in environmental trade-offs | 106 | ||
| 4.5.1 NRCS Conservation Effects Assessment Project | 107 | ||
| 4.6 Water-air trade-offs in manure management | 108 | ||
| 4.7 Nitrous oxide (N2O) management practices | 109 | ||
| 4.8 Summary, conclusions and areas for further analysis | 110 | ||
| Notes | 112 | ||
| References | 113 | ||
| Chapter 5. Criteria to guide nitrogen policy making | 119 | ||
| 5.1 Policy coherence | 120 | ||
| 5.2 The effectiveness, efficiency and feasibility of policy instruments | 124 | ||
| 5.2.1 A typology of policy instruments | 124 | ||
| 5.2.2 Effectiveness, efficiency and feasibility criteria | 126 | ||
| 5.3 Unintended effects related to the nitrogen cascade | 129 | ||
| Notes | 132 | ||
| References | 133 | ||
| Chapter 6. An assessment of the effectiveness, efficiency and feasibility of nitrogen policy instruments | 137 | ||
| 6.1 Key findings | 138 | ||
| 6.2 Case studies of policy instruments | 146 | ||
| 6.2.1 The Swedish refund emission payment for nitrogen oxides (NOx): a combination of environmentally related tax and public financial\r\nsupport (PFS) | 146 | ||
| 6.2.2 Selected instrument combinations of relevance to nitrogen pollution | 147 | ||
| 6.2.3 The Greater Miami Watershed Trading Programme: an example of tradable permit system (TPS) | 151 | ||
| 6.2.4 Japan’s automobile ‘nitrogen oxides (NOx) law’: an example of direct environmental regulation (DER) | 152 | ||
| 6.2.5 Pennsylvania’s Resource Enhancement and Protection Programme: an example of public financial support (PFS) | 154 | ||
| 6.2.6 The Agriculture and Environment Programme for Vittel area: an example of payment for ecosystem services (PES) | 154 | ||
| 6.2.7 Australia’s ‘FERTCARE’: an example of information measure | 155 | ||
| 6.2.8 Chesapeake 2000 Programme: an example of voluntary scheme | 157 | ||
| Notes | 159 | ||
| References | 161 | ||
| Annex A. Basic facts on nitrogen | 165 | ||
| A.1 The nitrogen cycle | 165 | ||
| A.2 The nitrogen problem in brief | 166 | ||
| A.3 Supplementary information on nitrogen impacts | 167 | ||
| A.3.1 Air quality | 167 | ||
| A.3.2 Greenhouse balance | 169 | ||
| A.3.3 Water quality | 169 | ||
| A.3.4 Ecosystems and biodiversity | 170 | ||
| Notes | 172 | ||
| References | 173 |