Context:

• A study by the Global Carbon Project (GCP) found that emissions of global warming nitrous oxide (N2O) increased by 40% (3 million metric tons of N2O per year) between 1980 and 2020.

Key Points:

Top 5 emitters of N2O:

• China (16.7%), India (10.9%), US (5.7%), Brazil (5.3%) and Russia (4.6%)
• India is the second largest emitter of N2O globally after China.
• India has the lowest per capita nitrous oxide emissions at 0.8 kg.
• The other top per capita emitters are China at 1.3, US at 1.7, Brazil at 2.5 and Russia at 3.3 kg.
• Atmospheric N2O concentrations are projected to reach 336 parts per billion in 2022, 25% above pre-industrial levels, higher than projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

N2O emission sources:

• Natural sources: contributed 11.8% of global N2O emissions between 2010 and 2019.
• Anthropogenic sources: Agricultural activities account for 74% of anthropogenic nitrous oxide emissions (mainly due to the use of chemical fertilizers and animal waste on agricultural land)
• Other important sources include industry, combustion and waste treatment.
• Of the 18 regions included in the study, only Europe, Russia, Australia, Japan and Korea have reduced nitrous oxide emissions.
• N2O is a greenhouse gas that warms the atmosphere more than carbon dioxide.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)/Laughing Gas, or NOX:

• Commonly known as laughing gas, it is a colourless, odourless and non-flammable gas
• Not flammable, yet it supports combustion just like oxygen
• Soluble in water. Its vapours are heavier than air
• Uses: By dentists and medical professionals, as a propellant in food aerosols, in the automotive industry to enhance engine performance, etc.

Global Carbon Project (GCP):

• Conducts studies to determine global greenhouse gas emissions and their causes.
• Formed: 2001
• Executive Director: Dr. Pep Canadell