Managing urban development could halve nitrogen pollution in China

Ouping Deng, Sitong Wang, Jiangyou Ran, Shuai Huang, Xiuming Zhang, Jiakun Duan, Lin Zhang, Yongqiu Xia, Stefan Reis, Jiayu Xu, Jianming Xu, Wim Vries, Mark A. Sutton and Baojing Gu ()
Additional contact information
Ouping Deng: Zhejiang University
Sitong Wang: Zhejiang University
Jiangyou Ran: Sichuan Agricultural University
Shuai Huang: Sichuan Agricultural University
Xiuming Zhang: Zhejiang University
Jiakun Duan: Zhejiang University
Lin Zhang: Peking University
Yongqiu Xia: Changshu National Agr-Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Stefan Reis: DLR Projekttraeger
Jiayu Xu: Peking University
Jianming Xu: Zhejiang University
Wim Vries: Wageningen University & Research
Mark A. Sutton: Bush Estate, Penicuik
Baojing Gu: Zhejiang University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Halving nitrogen pollution is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, how to reduce nitrogen pollution from multiple sources remains challenging. Here we show that reactive nitrogen (Nr) pollution could be roughly halved by managed urban development in China by 2050, with NH3, NOx and N2O atmospheric emissions declining by 44%, 30% and 33%, respectively, and Nr to water bodies by 53%. While rural-urban migration increases point-source nitrogen emissions in metropolitan areas, it promotes large-scale farming, reducing rural sewage and agricultural non-point-source pollution, potentially improving national air and water quality. An investment of approximately US$ 61 billion in waste treatment, land consolidation, and livestock relocation yields an overall benefit of US$ 245 billion. This underscores the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of halving Nr pollution through urbanization, contributing significantly to SDG1 (No poverty), SDG2 (Zero hunger), SDG6 (Clean water), SDG12 (Responsible consumption and production), SDG14 (Climate Action), and so on.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44685-y

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