In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Geoscience, researchers have unveiled a comprehensive framework that elucidates the intricate relationship between nitrogen management and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in China. This study pioneers the use of the Coupled Human and Natural Systems (CHANS) model to quantify how nitrogen – a fundamental element for agricultural productivity and economic growth – simultaneously acts as a critical environmental and societal challenge across diverse regions in China. The findings highlight nitrogen’s multifaceted role, influencing 11 out of the 17 SDGs, a revelation that underscores the necessity of integrated nitrogen governance to promote synergy among development objectives.
Nitrogen’s dualistic nature situates it as both an indispensable nutrient and a formidable pollutant. While it bolsters crop yields and supports food security, excessive nitrogen use leads to persistent environmental degradation, including water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss. The study’s novel CHANS model captures these complex feedbacks between human activities and ecological responses, providing unprecedented insights into regional disparities within China’s vast territorial expanse. Notably, economically developed regions score higher on nitrogen-related SDG performance in economic metrics but fall short concerning social and environmental outcomes, exposing trade-offs in development pathways.
The methodological innovation lies in integrating multi-dimensional datasets quantifying nitrogen inputs, losses, and associated environmental and health impacts with indicators tied to the SDG framework. This approach enabled the researchers to construct a composite nitrogen-related SDG index (SDG-N), facilitating a nuanced assessment of nitrogen’s influence across socioeconomic and ecological dimensions. The spatially explicit analysis reveals heterogeneity in nitrogen management outcomes, highlighting urbanized and industrialized areas where economic gains have come at the expense of ecological integrity and societal well-being.
Importantly, the study’s simulations offer a transformative vision for nitrogen stewardship. By implementing comprehensive nitrogen management strategies that optimize fertilizer application, reduce losses, and promote ecological restoration, the SDG-N index scores could improve substantially – by 8 to 26% nationwide. These improvements translate into tangible national benefits, including an estimated US$162 billion in cost savings derived from reduced fertilizer use and decreased dependence on food imports. The enhancement of agricultural productivity, alongside strengthened public health and ecosystem resilience, illustrates the profound co-benefits achievable through sustainable nitrogen policies.
Climate mitigation emerges as a critical assemblage within these benefits. Nitrogen management directly influences emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas arising from agricultural soils and industrial processes. The study underscores the potential for emissions reductions concomitant with nitrogen use efficiency improvements, aligning nitrogen governance with China’s climate commitments. This integrative perspective bridges environmental, economic, and social policy arenas, reinforcing the urgency of cross-sectoral collaboration to address nitrogen’s pervasive impacts.
Addressing the economic dimension, the study delineates a modest net implementation cost of approximately US$34 billion. This figure accounts for investments in fertilizer optimization technologies, infrastructure upgrades for nutrient recycling, and policy enforcement mechanisms. The comparatively low cost against the backdrop of substantial benefits positions nitrogen management as a cost-effective lever for accelerating China’s SDG agenda. Policymakers are thus presented with a pragmatic roadmap that balances development imperatives with ecological stewardship.
The regional disparities highlighted in the analysis warrant targeted strategies. In higher-income provinces, efforts must pivot toward mitigating environmental externalities and promoting equitable social outcomes, while less-developed regions may benefit more from enhanced nitrogen access to stimulate agricultural productivity. Tailored interventions considering local economic, environmental, and social contexts are essential to realizing synergistic advances across nitrogen-related SDGs and other development goals.
The holistic treatment of nitrogen’s influence aligns with the CHANS paradigm, emphasizing the inseparability of human and natural systems. Nitrogen flows are mapped not merely as nutrient cycles but as dynamic socio-ecological processes shaped by agricultural practices, industrial policies, economic development, and cultural factors. This integrated modeling framework advances our understanding of how resource management practices ripple through complex systems that underpin sustainability.
Beyond China, the study’s methodological framework and findings possess broad relevance for other countries grappling with nitrogen-related challenges. The demonstration of multi-dimensional benefits achievable through nitrogen stewardship offers an empirical foundation for global efforts to meet the United Nations’ SDGs. As nitrogen pollution is a transboundary phenomenon, fostering international collaboration guided by such evidence can enhance shared environmental and developmental outcomes.
Moreover, the study elevates the discourse on sustainable agriculture by embedding nitrogen management within the broader sustainability agenda. It calls for innovation in fertilizer technologies, precision agriculture, and circular nutrient economies to decouple agricultural intensification from environmental degradation. The embodied co-benefits in health, climate, and biodiversity present a compelling case for integrated policy designs that embrace sustainable intensification rather than siloed approaches.
Public health implications of nitrogen pollution are paramount in the analysis. The study quantifies health cost reductions tied to decreased nitrogen-related air and water pollutants, which are linked to respiratory diseases and waterborne illnesses. Enhancing nitrogen management thus transcends agriculture, contributing directly to improved population health and reduced healthcare burdens. These societal gains reinforce the multifaceted value proposition of nitrogen governance.
Ecosystem resilience and climate adaptation also feature prominently. Nutrient pollution often disrupts aquatic ecosystems through eutrophication, undermining biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services. By curtailing nitrogen losses, ecosystems can recover functional integrity, enhancing their capacity to buffer climate impacts. The synergistic gains between nitrogen management and climate adaptation strategies enhance national resilience to environmental shocks.
In synthesizing these complex interactions, the study provides evidence-based guidance for achieving integrated SDG outcomes. It advocates for multi-stakeholder engagement encompassing farmers, industry, policymakers, scientists, and civil society to co-design nitrogen management interventions. The comprehensive assessment underscores how strategic investments and coordinated governance can unlock synergistic pathways to sustainability, transcending conventional sectoral boundaries.
The implications for global food security are equally notable. Optimizing nitrogen use reduces waste and dependence on costly inputs, stabilizing food production systems in the face of growing demand. Coupling nitrogen efficiency with improved crop varieties and sustainable land management offers a blueprint for resilient agri-food systems. This nexus is pivotal amid escalating climate variability and resource constraints.
Finally, the study sets a precedent for integrating environmental pollutant dynamics into SDG evaluation frameworks. Nitrogen, often overlooked in sustainability metrics, emerges here as a central axis around which socio-economic and environmental goals revolve. This recognition catalyzes a paradigm shift in sustainability science, embedding chemical and nutrient flows as critical indicators in monitoring and policy formulation.
As China advances on its ambitious development path, the insights rendered by this CHANS model-based study empower evidence-driven, cost-effective policies that harmonize agricultural productivity, environmental health, and social well-being. The multifaceted benefits forecasted exemplify how nuanced nitrogen governance can be a cornerstone in the sustainable future of a nation and a model for global sustainability efforts.
Subject of Research: Nitrogen management and its impact on achieving China’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using the Coupled Human and Natural Systems model.
Article Title: Nitrogen management to achieve China’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Article References:
Chen, B., Zhang, X. & Gu, B. Nitrogen management to achieve China’s Sustainable Development Goals. Nat. Geosci. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-026-01919-0
Image Credits: AI Generated
