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Societal benefits of halving agricultural ammonia emissions in China far exceed the abatement costs

Author

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  • Xiuming Zhang

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Baojing Gu

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Hans Grinsven

    (PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency)

  • Shu Kee Lam

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Xia Liang

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Mei Bai

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Deli Chen

    (The University of Melbourne)

Abstract

Mitigating agricultural ammonia (NH3) emissions in China is urgently needed to avoid further damage to human and ecosystem health. Effective and feasible mitigation strategies hinge on integrated knowledge of the mitigation potential of NH3 emissions and the associated economic costs and societal benefits. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of marginal abatement costs and societal benefits for NH3 mitigation in China. The technical mitigation potential of agricultural NH3 emissions is 38–67% (4.0–7.1 Tg N) with implementation costs estimated at US$ 6–11 billion. These costs are much lower than estimates of the overall societal benefits at US$ 18–42 billion. Avoiding unnecessary fertilizer use and protein-rich animal feed could provide 30% of this mitigation potential without additional abatement costs or decreases in agricultural productivity. Optimizing human diets with less animal-derived products offers further potential for NH3 reduction of 12% by 2050.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiuming Zhang & Baojing Gu & Hans Grinsven & Shu Kee Lam & Xia Liang & Mei Bai & Deli Chen, 2020. "Societal benefits of halving agricultural ammonia emissions in China far exceed the abatement costs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-18196-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18196-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Xinxin Song & Huanhuan Pu & Yingying Zhang & Xuguang Liu & Yongqiang Zhao, 2023. "Characteristics of nitrogen flow and environmental cost of reactive nitrogen in the source area of the Yellow River Basin, China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(11), pages 13379-13397, November.
    2. Fu, Zhaopeng & Zhang, Ke & Zhang, Jiayi & Zhang, Yu & Cao, Qiang & Tian, Yongchao & Zhu, Yan & Cao, Weixing & Liu, Xiaojun, 2023. "Optimizing nitrogen application and sowing date can improve environmental sustainability and economic benefit in wheat-rice rotation," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    3. Wan, Xuejie & Wu, Wei & Liao, Yuncheng, 2021. "Mitigating ammonia volatilization and increasing nitrogen use efficiency through appropriate nitrogen management under supplemental irrigation and rain–fed condition in winter wheat," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    4. Himics, Mihaly & Giannakis, Elias & Kushta, Jonilda & Hristov, Jordan & Sahoo, Amarendra & Perez-Dominguez, Ignacio, 2022. "Co-benefits of a flexitarian diet for air quality and human health in Europe," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).

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