Nitrogen:
India, the world’s second-largest emitter of N₂O after China, faces climate risks as N₂O has 300 times the global warming potential of CO₂.
- Nitrogen is the most abundant atmospheric gas, constituting ~78% of Earth’s atmosphere.
- Nitrogen is vital for forming DNA, ATP (cellular energy currency), proteins, chlorophyll, and acts as a neurotransmitter via nitric oxide (NO).
- Reactive nitrogen (ammonia, nitrate, nitrous oxide) is now overproduced through chemical fertilisers.
- 80% of applied nitrogen is lost to the environment via leaching and emissions, causing:
- Eutrophication of water bodies → Algal blooms, Dead Zones (e.g., Gulf of Mexico).
- Soil acidification and air pollution from NOx emissions.
- Formation of ground-level ozone and acid rain.
- N₂O (Nitrous oxide) is now the third most potent greenhouse gas after CO₂ and CH₄.
