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

Xiuming Zhang, Baojing Gu (), Hans Grinsven, Shu Kee Lam, Xia Liang, Mei Bai and Deli Chen ()
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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

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18196-z

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