The International Nitrogen Initiative (INI), chaired by Professor Mark Sutton of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, announces its commitment to support a global goal to halve nitrogen waste by 2030 at the Our Ocean Conference in Bali today (Tuesday 30 October 2018).
INI issued the following written statement summarising its commitment:
- "INI commits to support a global goal to halve nitrogen waste by 2030, offering a resource-saving of $100 billion per year globally, by reducing pollution by 100 million tonnes per year, as a key to protecting Our Oceans with quantified co-benefits for water quality, air quality, biodiversity, climate resilience, food and livelihoods."
- "INI cannot work alone, but must join with governments, business and citizens globally to achieve this goal, spearheading a holistic approach for nitrogen across the Sustainable Development Goals."
- "INI makes this commitment by providing a global science-policy support process for better nitrogen management, the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS), working 2018-2022 in partnership with UN Environment and a global network of over 80 partners from science, governments, agencies and civil society. Over this period, the INMS partnership commits a US$60M effort, including $6M through the Global Environment Facility (GEF)."
In launching the commitment, Professor Sutton called for collective action, saying, "Farming, waste water, transport and industry are polluting Our Ocean with nitrogen compounds, causing dead-zones and killing fish. Nitrogen air pollution threatens our health, climate and ecosystems.
"If we want Clean Seas and Fresh Air, if we want to meet the 1.5°C limit, then the World must get serious about Nitrogen. The International Nitrogen Initiative therefore commits to support a global goal to halve nitrogen waste by 2030. It offers a resource-saving of $100 billion per year, reducing pollution by 100 million tonnes."
The commitment will be delivered through the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS). This System will be implemented by UN Environment with funding through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and executed through the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council and its Centre for Ecology & Hydrology on behalf of the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI).
Watch Prof Mark Sutton deliver the announcement at the Our Ocean 2018 conference:
About the International Nitrogen Initiative
The International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) is an international program, set up in 2003 under sponsorship of the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) and from the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP). The key aims of the INI are to:
- Optimize nitrogen’s beneficial role in sustainable food production.
- Minimize nitrogen’s negative effects on human health and the environment resulting from food and energy production.
About the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS)
The International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) will bring together the science community, the private sector and civil society to gather and synthesise evidence that can support international policy development to improve global nitrogen management.
Additional links
Staff page of Professor Mark Sutton, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology