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South Asia’s excess Nitrogen heavily contribute to climate crisis: More coordination needed on N2 management
Says Sri Lanka – Pakistan joint paper on nitrogen pollution
The prevalence of excess nitrogen in the soil, water and air in South Asia arising from dominant fertilizer related agriculture practices and unchecked use of fossil fuel to drive farming and economies is hurting the region and contributing to an exacerbation of climate crisis, highlights a report published by a Sri Lankan think-tank.
It further stresses that the issue is serious in South Asia and stakeholders need to combat nitrogen pollution better when national and regional strategies are fleshed out and prioritized at both national and regional levels.
The briefing paper titled “The role of Nitrogen Pollution in Aggravating South Asia’s Climate Crisis” had a soft launch on Saturday, January 25, in Colombo. Authored by Dr Gothamie Weerakoon and Adnan Remat, under the aegis of Factum, an Asia-Pacific focused foreign policy think-tank based in Colombo, the paper provides a critical insight into the issue, its root causes and recommendations for mitigation.
According to the UN Environmental Program, nitrogen pollution is one of five distinct causes of climate change. In South Asia, there is currently no framework that regulates nitrogen management. While there has been much talk of economic integration, no effort has been taken at a regional level to combat the effects of nitrogen pollution, even though there is some consensus as to priorities and actions, as outlined by the Colombo Declaration, Delhi Declaration, and UN Environment Assembly Resolution. Yet there needs to be a clear effort towards greater youth and scientific mobilization in these areas.
Dr Gothamie Weerakoon, Senior Curator at the Department of Science of the Natural History Museum in London, UK and also Climate Advisor to Factum, and Adnan Remat, a veteran media and communications strategist and science advocate based in Islamabad, Pakistan, are the co-authors of the briefing paper, which provides insights on using bioscience, communications, and collaborative actions to address issues of nitrogen pollution and climate crisis in South Asia.
South Asia’s dilemma, as one of the leading contributors to but also one of the biggest victims of climate change, is no longer up for debate. Changing climate conditions may diminish living conditions for close to 800 million people, a number that is set to grow as temperatures rise. While the Global South is set to suffer the most from climate change, research suggests that South Asia will be one of the hardest hit regions.
Against this backdrop, a multi-directional initiative is needed to address nitrogen pollution. The report traces the growing nitrogen footprint in South Asia from the time of the Green Revolution, which released excess nitrogen into soils, water, and air.
The key question that the report tries to address is what needs to be done to prevent further deterioration and human suffering from nitrogen pollution in the region. Laying bare its economic and ecological cost, the report advocates a stronger scientific approach to the problem, mobilizing regional cooperation to resolve what it calls a “functional link” between nitrogen pollution and tropical lichen bioindicators.
Conducting monitoring across four countries – Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka – it measures the response of lichens to atmospheric quality to monitor the impact of nitrogen pollution on the region.
The report suggests that while different countries sustain different levels of nitrogen and pollution, the situation is dire across the region and needs immediate responses. To this end, it outlines six recommendations, including encouraging youth and tech diplomacy and promoting much more academic collaboration on nitrogen research and advocacy.
The briefing paper is available on Factum (www.factum.lk). For more details, contact Uditha Devapriya, Chief International Relations Analyst at Factum, at uditha@factum.lk.
Latest News
Landslide RED warnings issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya extended up to 1600 hrs today [07]
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Matara, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura effective from 16:00 hrs on 06.12.2025 to 16:00 hrs on 07.12.2025.
Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pathadumbara, Kundasale, Pathahewaheta, Panvila, Medadumbara, Doluwa, Thumpane, Udunuwara, Deltota, Ganga Ihala Korale, Pasbage Korale, Yatinuwara, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Minipe, Udapalatha, Gangawata Korale, Akurana, Poojapitiya and Harispattuwa in the Kandy district, Thumpane, Udunuwara, Deltota, Ganga Ihala Korale, Pasbage Korale, Yatinuwara, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Minipe, Udapalatha, Gangawata Korale, Akurana, Poojapitiya and Harispattuwa in the Kegalle district, Alawwa, Rideegama, Polgahawela, Mallawapitiya and Mawathagama inthe Kurunegala district, Ukuwela, Naula, Yatawatta, Laggala Pallegama, Pallepola, Matale, Rattota, Ambanganga Korale and Wilgamuwa in the Matale district, and Hanguranketha, Mathurata, Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya district
LEVEL II AMBER warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Ella, Welimada, Haputhale, Lunugala, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale West, Norwood, Ambagamuwa Korale, Thalawakele, Kothmale East and Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Godakawela, Kahawaththa and Kolonna in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colonbo district, Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Divulapitiya and Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya, Bulathsinhala and Horana in the Kalutara district, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, Bibile and Medagama in the Monaragala district, and Kuruwita, Balangoda, Eheliyagoda, Pelmadulla, Kaltota, Kalawana, Openayake, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Elapatha, Ratnapura and Kiriella in the Ratnapura district.
The Situation Report issued by the Disaster Management Center [DMC] at 2000hrs on Saturday [06] confirms that 607 persons have died due to the recent flooding and landslides while another 209 persons were missing.
The death toll in the Kandy district which one of the most affected districts has risen to 232, and 1800 houses have been fully damaged.The number of missing persons reported is 81
100,124 persons belonging to 29,874 families were being housed at 990 safety centers established by the government.
The government’s failure to act on expert warnings, including advance forecasts on Cyclone Ditwah, had led to the worsening of disaster impact, Udaya Gammanpila, leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, said at a press conference in Colombo yesterday.
Gammanpila accused the NPP government of ignoring 14 key preventive measures, despite alerts from the Meteorology Department, foreign experts, and the media.
Gammanpila said the government had failed to lower the water levels in reservoirs, dredge estuaries, and deploy the armed forces for canal maintenance. Local government bodies were reportedly sidelined, and that led to a delay in cleaning of drains. He said the government had also failed to evacuate people in a timely manner from seven districts identified by the National Building Research Organisation as landslide-prone. It had delayed declaring emergencies or curfews and the deployment of tri-forces to evacuate people in such areas.
Gammanpila said an experienced public official should have been appointed as Secretary to the President to mobilise the state machinery swiftly during the disaster. He said the government had not convened the National Disaster Council.
“These failures worsened the disaster, causing immense hardship, disruption, and loss of life and property to the people,” Gammanpila said.
The government has denied the Opposition’s claims.
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