US tackles nitrous oxide emissions in latest climate initiative

The Biden administration plans to reduce US emissions of industrial greenhouse gases, including nitrous oxide, as part of a new climate change policy under the Paris agreement.


The focus on industrial gases follows US efforts to reduce methane emissions, which resulted in an international campaign to persuade other countries to make significant cuts in addition to domestic reductions.

Nitrous oxide, like methane, is a short-lived but significant driver of global warming, so the US thinks that targeting it would result in rapid and cost-effective benefits in the fight against climate change.

“Most of the discussion of climate change focuses on carbon dioxide, but super pollutants like methane and nitrous oxide cause half of the climate change we’re experiencing today,” said John Podesta, Senior Adviser to the President for International Climate Policy.

The White House launched the campaign on Tuesday with a ceremony and declarations by industrial businesses, like Ascend Performance Materials, that are taking voluntary steps to reduce nitrous oxide emissions, officials said.

Nitrous oxide emissions originate from a range of sources, including the manufacture of certain fertilizers and synthetic polymers such as nylon.

A State Department official told Reuters that reducing nitrous oxide emissions through voluntary carbon offset schemes can cost as little as $10 per metric ton.

Last year, the United States and China agreed to include a promise to reduce all non-carbon greenhouse emissions in their new national climate plans for the Paris climate agreement, which will be submitted to the United Nations next year.

Gabrielle Dreyfuss, head scientist at the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development, expressed her expectation that the two largest industrial emitters would cooperate on nitrous oxide.

“When the US and China work together, big things can happen,” she told reporters.

Podesta stated at another event hosted by IGSD, the Asia Society, and think tank Climate Advisers that he will visit China “later this year” to speak with colleagues.

Tuesday’s ceremony also included a $300 million pledge from philanthropies for the Global Methane Hub, which funds projects to reduce methane emissions throughout the world.