The role of N-gases (N_2O, NO_x, NH_3) in cost-effective strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in Europe

摘要

Reactive nitrogen compounds play a key role both in air pollution and its multiple effects and as greenhouse gas. The well-known interferences of environmental nitrogen pertain to their behavior in general, but also affect their release to the atmosphere and any measures to control such a release. Considerable interest exists in the scientific literature compiled here to investigate such interferences, with a focus on co-benefits. Cost considerations are essential information for policy purposes, and costs can be divided among environmental targets if co-benefits of measures can be identified. Recent scientific work demonstrates that abatement of nitrogen compounds (especially ammonia and nitrogen oxides) is decisive for cost-efficient reduction of the effects of air pollution, like the impacts of nitrogen deposition on ecosystems or its contribution to formation of secondary ozone and particulate matter and associated health effects. Likewise, such results show that cost efficient abatement of greenhouse gases also needs to include mitigation of nitrous oxide emissions.