"According to one study, N2O emission is also “the single most important ozone-depleting emission, and is expected to remain the largest throughout the 21st century."  - https://civileats.com/2019/09/19/the-greenhouse-gas-no-ones-talking-about-nitrous-oxide-on-farms-explained/

"Nitrous oxide emissions from human activities have ballooned 30 percent over the past four decades, barreling past the highest emission levels scientists have projected in climate models, according to new estimates published Oct. 7 in the journal Nature. “We need to turn the valve on emissions as quickly as possible,” said study co-author Rob Jackson, a professor of Earth system science at Stanford University." - https://news.stanford.edu/2020/10/07/laughing-gas-growing-climate-problem/ 

One article states that, "the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy found that Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer accounts for 2.4% of global emissions and its supply chain accounts for 21.5% of the annual direct emissions from agriculture."

... "An estimated one-third to one-half of the nitrous oxide released into the atmosphere today is a result of human activities. The biggest culprit: the increase in agricultural lands and synthetic fertilizer use in agriculture, which has steadily increased in recent decades. And industrial farming—especially of annual crops like vegetables and grains—are especially to blame, as farmers tend to over-apply fertilizers to boost their yields."

... 

"Livestock manure is another agricultural source that provides nitrogen to the microbes—the nitrous oxide is emitted during storage and treatment of the animal waste. There are also significant indirect emissions from nitrogen leaching and runoff.

Non-agricultural human sources of N2O include industry processes, biomass and fossil fuel burning, and sewage (waste management)."  - https://civileats.com/2019/09/19/the-greenhouse-gas-no-ones-talking-about-nitrous-oxide-on-farms-explained/ 

Acid Rain

Thanks to factory farms which produce huge quantities of ammonia and nitrous oxide, acid rain has come back, damaging soil, aquatic ecosystems, statues and buildings. -  https://grist.org/article/food-acid-rain-is-back-and-thanks-to-farming-worse-than-ever/ 

Ozone Depletion

It has been determined that, "nitrous oxide is the single greatest ozone-depleting substance that, if its emissions are not controlled, is expected to remain the dominant ozone-depleting substance throughout the 21st century. Reducing nitrous oxide emissions would thus enhance the rate of recovery of the ozone hole and reduce the anthropogenic forcing of climate."

"Agricultural emissions of N2O in the U.S. account for nearly 80 percent of the total human emissions of this gas—including 74 percent from cultivated soils and 5 percent from manure management. And while emissions from manure may not be as significant as from soil, disposing of large amounts of manure is challenging. On some large livestock operations, farmers inject the manure into soil using a shallow disk injector in hopes it won’t run off into waterways, but that practice only increases nitrous oxide emissions. Although previous research suggested that emissions occur only during the growing season because microbes aren’t active during winter, climate change is causing soils to warm up and thaw more frequently, activating the microbes and leading to winter N2O emissions." - https://civileats.com/2019/09/19/the-greenhouse-gas-no-ones-talking-about-nitrous-oxide-on-farms-explained/ 

Garbage Incineration

Combustion of Fossil fuel in Industrial Activity

This includes factories and energy production.

Energy Plants

By switching to renewable energies, we can avoid burning fuels which release dangerous greenhouse gases.

Solutions

Understanding about nitrous oxide sinks can help, but this section dives into some specific actions we as individuals and communities can take to help reduce emissions in the first place.

Monitoring

Since this is an invisible gas, one of the most important things we can do is monitor it, so we can better understand the sources, and policy makers can create informed methods of reduction. Scroll down to the Monitoring section to learn more about this step.

For Farmers & Gardeners

Use Organic Fertilization, Not Synthetic 

Farmers and gardeners can all help build soil organic matter and decrease the need for synthetic fertilizers with:

• Compost

• Cover Crops

• Mulch

• Conservation Tillage 

• Slow-Release or Controlled Release Fertilizers

• Optimize Timing of Fertilization to right before the time of maximum growth instead of months before, to maximize plant growth and minimize runoff.

Irrigation

Irrigation changes can also reduce N2O emissions:

• Micro-Irrigation such as drip and sub-surface drip.

Wasteful watering techniques such as flood irrigation increase nitrous oxide emissions.

• Indoor farming reduces the need for outdoor irrigation, which in turn eliminates run off. Farmers can reduce water us by anywhere from 85-99% over outdoor farms.

Resources

International

• DeSmog’s Agribusiness Database "find a record of companies and organisations’ current messaging on climate change, lobbying around climate action, and histories of climate science denial."

• DeSmog’s Climate Disinformation Database "browse our extensive research on the individuals and organizations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming."

Europe

UK

• DeSmog’s Air Pollution Lobbying Database "find out about organisations opposing or seeking to weaken planned air quality measures in the UK’s most polluted cities, including Clean Air Zones and London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone."

North America

USA

• DeSmog’s Koch Network Database "browse our extensive research on the individuals and organizations linked to Charles Koch or other members of the Koch family, Koch Industries, and related entities."

Organizations

International

• DeSmog "was founded in January 2006 to clear the PR pollution that is clouding the science and solutions to climate change. Our team quickly became the world’s number one source for accurate, fact-based information regarding global warming misinformation campaigns.
  
  DeSmog continues to expand our focus to other areas where misinformation has eroded public understanding and political action to address critical societal challenges, such as meeting the world’s energy needs, confronting environmental racism, and ensuring a just transition to a sustainable economic paradigm.
  
  Through hard-hitting investigative journalism, in-depth research, and collaborations with other investigative outlets, DeSmog works tirelessly to provide climate accountability and serve as an antidote to science denial and disinformation. Supported by science and dedicated to equity, our team is helping to clear the way for clean energy solutions, environmental justice, and the preservation of democracy.
  
  Now a global organization, with reporters and researchers spanning North and South America, the UK, Europe, Africa, and beyond, the DeSmog team works to expose corporate misinformation from major fossil fuel interests, including the likes of ExxonMobil, Koch Industries, and others with a documented history of undermining climate science and action. We conduct original research and reporting on a range of issues in the broader energy policy dialogue. In many cases, we find the same tactics, and many of the same people, that DeSmog first began exposing in our early research into the climate denial industry, are now sitting alongside a new breed of lobbyist, downplaying potential solutions to climate change, and promoting questionable “silver-bullet” solutions.
  
  Our research databases provide vital information on over 800 organizations and individuals responsible for spreading misinformation on a range of energy and science topics. We first started reporting on Koch Industries’ funding of climate denial in 2007, and continue to track Koch-linked groups and operatives in our Koch Network Database. In 2020, we added two new databases — the Air Pollution Lobbying Database and Agribusiness Database — showing how vested interests are working to slow action across multiple sectors."

Europe

UK

• Earthwatch Europe: Tiny Forest "brings the benefits of woodland right into the heart of our cities and urban spaces: connecting people with nature, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change, as well as providing nature-rich habitat to support urban wildlife."

North America

USA

• The Clean Energy States Alliance "is a national, nonprofit coalition of public agencies and organizations working together to advance clean energy.
  
  CESA works with state leaders, federal agencies, industry representatives, and other stakeholders to develop clean energy programs and inclusive renewable energy markets. CESA members—mostly state agencies—include many of the most innovative, successful, and influential public funders of clean energy initiatives in the country."

Maps

International

• The European Space Agency: Nitrogen Dioxide Pollution Mapped

• More People Care About Climate Change than You Think "The majority of people in every country support action on climate, but the public consistently underestimates this share."

Grants

International

• Open Philanthropy "Open Philanthropy’s mission is to give as effectively as we can and share our findings openly so that anyone can build on our work."

North America

USA

• The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund "The President’s Inflation Reduction Act created a first-of-its-kind, national-scale program: the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund—a $27 billion investment to mobilize financing and private capital to address the climate crisis, ensure our country’s economic competitiveness, and promote energy independence while delivering lower energy costs and economic revitalization to communities that have historically been left behind."

• The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program "provides $5 billion in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. Authorized under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act, this two-phase program provides $250 million for noncompetitive planning grants, and approximately $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants."

California

• California Air Districts "California's 35 local Air Districts are responsible for regional air quality planning, monitoring, and stationary source and facility permitting. The districts administer air quality improvement grant programs and are CARB's primary partners in efforts to ensure that all Californians breathe clean air."

• California Air Resources Board: Funding for Clean School Buses