FOSSILS, FERTILIZERS, AND FALSE SOLUTIONS

The document details how the production and use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, which have grown ninefold since 1961, contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions (roughly 2% from nitrogen fertilizer alone) and biodiversity loss. It highlights a deep convergence between the fossil fuel and agrochemical industries, noting that these sectors are collaborating to use carbon capture and storage (CCS) to produce 'blue' ammonia and hydrogen. The report argues that these are 'false solutions' designed to secure government subsidies and extend reliance on fossil gas, while warning that the current industrial agricultural model undermines food sovereignty and global food security.

• The production and use of nitrogen fertilizers have increased significantly, growing ninefold from 12.9 million tonnes in 1961 to over 123 million tonnes in 2020. High-income regions including Japan, the United States, and western Europe use between 85–135 kg of nitrogen fertilizers per capita, while industry focus has shifted toward increasing use in the Global South. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) projects that nitrogen fertilizer use could increase by another 50 percent by 2050.
• Fossil fertilizers contribute substantially to global greenhouse gas emissions. A August 2022 study found that nitrogen fertilizer alone accounts for roughly 2 percent of all global GHG emissions, a climate impact exceeding that of commercial aviation. Specifically, ammonia production releases approximately 450 million tonnes of CO2 annually, which is equivalent to the total energy system emissions of South Africa. Additionally, nitrogen fertilizers are a primary source of nitrous oxide (N2O), a gas 265 times more potent than CO2, with atmospheric concentrations now beginning to exceed the most pessimistic IPCC models.
• There is a deep convergence between the fossil fuel and agrochemical industries. Synthesizing ammonia for nitrogen fertilizers currently uses an estimated 3–5 percent of global fossil gas. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that by 2050, petroleum usage will be more than half (55 percent) driven by petrochemicals, with plastics and fertilizers accounting for 74 percent of all petrochemicals produced. Of eight leading fertilizer companies analyzed, seven have extensive ties to the fossil fuel industry via corporate ownership, board interlocks, or direct production.
• Fossil fuel and agrochemical companies are partnering to promote carbon capture and storage (CCS) to produce fossil gas-based ammonia and hydrogen, marketed as 'clean' energy and agrochemicals. These projects are being explored in at least nine countries, with a particular focus on the US, where proposals exist in eight states. The document asserts that these 'blue' hydrogen and ammonia fuels are technically and economically infeasible for most uses and may be as harmful or worse for the climate than burning fossil gas directly.
• The reliance on industrial agrochemicals threatens global food security and biodiversity. The 2022 market shocks in food, fuel, and fertilizer prices, exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, highlighted the systemic flaws of a food system dependent on chemical inputs. Overuse of these chemicals contributes to toxic pollution and biodiversity collapse, pushing the earth beyond critical planetary boundaries.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2022). FOSSILS, FERTILIZERS, AND FALSE SOLUTIONS. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Fossil-Fertilizers-and-False-Solutions_Executive-Summary_EN.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. FOSSILS, FERTILIZERS, AND FALSE SOLUTIONS. 2022. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Fossil-Fertilizers-and-False-Solutions_Executive-Summary_EN.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=FOSSILS, FERTILIZERS, AND FALSE SOLUTIONS |date=September 2022 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Fossil-Fertilizers-and-False-Solutions_Executive-Summary_EN.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2022fossils, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{FOSSILS, FERTILIZERS, AND FALSE SOLUTIONS}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2022}, month = sep, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Fossil-Fertilizers-and-False-Solutions_Executive-Summary_EN.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }