Nitrogen emissions in Latin America: a conceptual framework of drivers, impacts and policy responses

This research paper proposes a conceptual framework to analyze the drivers, impacts, and policy responses regarding reactive nitrogen emissions in Latin America, emphasizing the tension between the necessity of nitrogen for food and energy production and its detrimental environmental and health effects.

• Nitrogen pollution in Latin America is a widespread environmental challenge driven by excess emissions from productive activities, particularly agriculture, to meet rising demands for energy and food.
• Using Brazil as a case study, the authors found that while the increase in nitrogen emissions is driven by demand factors—such as socioeconomic needs for housing, energy, and food—the ability to implement successful solutions depends on structural drivers, specifically institutional and political factors and governance.
• The paper argues that political decision-making and institutional strength are essential for creating policy instruments to manage the 'nitrogen dilemma,' noting that current policy responses in Latin American countries are often non-existent or very limited.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2025). Nitrogen emissions in Latin America: a conceptual framework of drivers, impacts and policy responses. https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/nitrogen-emissions-in-latin-america-a-conceptual-framework-of-drivers-impacts-and-policy-responses/

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Nitrogen emissions in Latin America: a conceptual framework of drivers, impacts and policy responses. 2025. https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/nitrogen-emissions-in-latin-america-a-conceptual-framework-of-drivers-impacts-and-policy-responses/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Nitrogen emissions in Latin America: a conceptual framework of drivers, impacts and policy responses |date=9 January 2025 |url=https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/nitrogen-emissions-in-latin-america-a-conceptual-framework-of-drivers-impacts-and-policy-responses/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2025nitrogen, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Nitrogen emissions in Latin America: a conceptual framework of drivers, impacts and policy responses}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2025}, month = jan, url = {https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/nitrogen-emissions-in-latin-america-a-conceptual-framework-of-drivers-impacts-and-policy-responses/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }