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FST scientists caution against nitrogen pollution

 Jamaican scientists, Dr. Adrian Spence (Senior Research Scientist, International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS)) and Prof. Michael Taylor (Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology at The University of the West Indies) supported a caution issued from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for countries to tackle nitrogen pollution that has contributed to the climate and public health risks.

Nitrogen pollution is in part responsible for increased nitrous oxide entering the atmosphere. Nitrous oxide, in addition to being a human-related threat to the ozone layer, is a potent greenhouse contributing to the climate-change problem – like methane and carbon dioxide. The ballooning increase in nitrous oxide in the atmosphere in the last few decades is cause for concern. The climate-change link gives our region (the Caribbean) another reason to pay attention to nitrogen management, that is, in addition to the other harmful impacts of nitrogen pollution on terrestrial and marine ecosystems,” Taylor explained.  Dr. Spence added, “Considering the importance of nitrogen in agricultural productivity to meet global food demand in the face of climate change and mounting land degradation; and the unintended consequences of its unsustainable use, sustainable nitrogen management has become more urgent than any other time in human history.” Dr. Spence is also an environmental biogeochemist and climate change mitigation specialist who has championed improved fertiliser use efficiency as one of the primary strategies for sustainable nitrogen use.

Photo caption: Dr. Adrian Spence (ICENS)

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Published on 31 Jan, 2023

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