Report: A How-to Guide to Address the “Forgotten Greenhouse Gas”
Companies and governments are being issued a challenge today to curb emissions of the super-pollutant nitrous oxide from the chemical factories that make key inputs for everyday goods from airbags to upholstery.
NEW YORK (September 23, 2026) – Companies and governments are being issued a challenge today to curb emissions of the super-pollutant nitrous oxide from the chemical factories that make key inputs for everyday goods from airbags to upholstery.
A new briefing note, The Climate and Health Benefits of Mitigating Industrial N2O, explains the straightforward steps companies can take to reduce emissions of nitrous oxide. NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and IGSD (Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development) are launching the Industrial Nitrous Oxide Challenge with the goal of getting companies to eliminate 10 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (MtCO2e) of nitrous oxide over the next year.
Nitrous oxide, called the “forgotten greenhouse gas”, is a super-pollutant 270 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
“Industrial nitrous oxide emissions are a solvable problem, and one of the clearest opportunities for near-term climate action,” said Jackie Wong, NRDC’s senior vice president for Climate & Energy. “If governments and corporate actors can rally and meet this challenge over the next year, it will prove that we can tackle the much larger goal of nearly eliminating industrial nitrous oxide emissions early next decade.”
The technology to eliminate nitrous oxide emissions from chemical plants is readily available and is an efficient and affordable way to curb climate pollution, but before now companies have had little incentive to install the equipment. This new challenge is aimed at spurring demand, and reducing costs, for industrial nitrous oxide emissions reductions through tools such as high-integrity carbon credits, clean procurement, and supplier engagement.
“Real progress happens when manufacturers step up, and independent experts verify the results,” said Tad Ferris, IGSD senior counsel. “This challenge unites industrial leaders with civil society to ensure every ton of industrial nitrous oxide emissions cut is authentic, transparent, and built to last.”
Underpinning the challenge, the new briefing note from the Climate & Clean Air Coalition identifies that industrial nitrous oxide abatement can be achieved with well-proven, commercialized technologies and that high-integrity market mechanisms can rapidly unlock these outsized climate and public health benefits.
Industrial nitrous oxide abatement could reduce emissions by more than 300 MtCO₂e annually by 2030, and nearly 500 MtCO₂e annually by 2050, a reduction that equates to the annual emissions of roughly 70 million gas-powered cars. In addition to its impact on curbing climate pollution, this would also help accelerate recovery of the ozone layer and prevent an estimated 25,000 to 125,000 skin cancer cases annually later this century.
“Industrial nitrous oxide emissions are higher than previously thought and rising faster than expected as demand for downstream products like nylon and fertilizer continues to grow,” said Caroline Kim, an NRDC technical analyst and a co-author of the report. “This mounting emissions problem makes it even more urgent that we get nitrous oxide abatement installed widely. We have the technology; it’s time to start using it.”