Sustainable development in an N-rich/n-poor world
Charles Perrings1, Ann Kinzig, George Halkos
1ecoSERVICES Group, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ, 85287-4501, USA, Charles.Perrings@asu.edu.
Ambio
|January 25, 2014
Summary
Sustainable development hinges on inclusive wealth. This study reveals that while nitrogen loss can decrease wealth, increased fertilizer use, even in poorer nations, can surprisingly boost per capita inclusive wealth.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Economics
- Sustainable Development Studies
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Sustainable development mandates non-declining per capita inclusive wealth, encompassing produced, human, and natural capital.
- Current wealth accounting methods do not explicitly address the impacts of nitrogen dynamics, including pollution and depletion.
- Nitrogen's dual role as a pollutant and a crucial nutrient affects environmental quality and economic capital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of nitrogen changes on inclusive wealth.
- To analyze the relationship between net nitrogen replacement and per capita wealth growth.
- To explore the effects of nitrogen fertilizer application on wealth in both developed and developing countries.
Main Methods:
- Calculation of a net nitrogen replacement index.
- Statistical analysis of the relationship between the nitrogen index and per capita inclusive wealth.
- Comparative analysis across countries with varying levels of nitrogen loss.
Main Results:
- In countries with low relative nitrogen loss, uncompensated soil nitrogen depletion in poorer nations correlates with declining per capita inclusive wealth growth.
- Increased nitrogen fertilizer application is associated with an increase in per capita inclusive wealth in both high-income and low-income countries.
- The study quantifies the often-overlooked economic consequences of nitrogen mismanagement on national wealth.
Conclusions:
- Nitrogen depletion poses a significant threat to sustainable development by eroding inclusive wealth, particularly in less developed economies.
- Strategic nitrogen fertilizer application can be a viable strategy to enhance inclusive wealth, even in resource-limited settings.
- Integrating nitrogen dynamics into wealth accounting is crucial for accurate assessment of sustainable development progress.
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