Study: Fertiliser use threatens global climate goals as nitrous oxide emissions soar

Cecilia Keating
clock • 3 min read

Scientists urge reform of global food production system after study shows N2O levels - emitted largely by farming fertiliser - have soared over past two decades

The growing use of nitrogen fertilisers for farming is putting the world's climate goals at risk, a breakthrough study published this afternoon in leading scientific journal Nature has warned. Emissions...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Climate change

Report: Dairy and coffee firms found 'lagging' behind on tackling methane emissions

Report: Dairy and coffee firms found 'lagging' behind on tackling methane emissions

Research from Changing Markets Foundation finds only three of 23 companies assessed have methane targets in place

clock 27 May 2026 • 5 min read
'Deeply worrying': Calls grow for climate resilience action as UK smashes heat records

'Deeply worrying': Calls grow for climate resilience action as UK smashes heat records

Met Office confirms UK recorded its hottest ever temperature in May for the second consecutive day, reaching 35C in parts of West London

Michael Holder
clock 26 May 2026 • 5 min read
Research: Climate change most significant factor shaping EU farming adaptation

Research: Climate change most significant factor shaping EU farming adaptation

European Commission research explores how are EU farmers are increasingly adapting their businesses to both better mitigate and prepare for the worsening impacts of climate change

Chris Brayford, Farmers Guardian
clock 26 May 2026 • 2 min read