A Decade of Transformation: China's Path to Fertilizer Reduction and Efficiency Gains

The document highlights the high carbon intensity of synthetic fertilizer production, which relies heavily on coal and natural gas, and the significant nitrous oxide emissions released during field application. It identifies China as a key global market player that has implemented an integrated governance framework combining policy, market mechanisms, and technology to coordinate the low-carbon transition of its fertilizer industry.

• The production of nitrogen fertilizers is characterized by high energy and emission intensity due to a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, specifically coal and natural gas, resulting in carbon intensity that exceeds that of cement and crude steel.
• Agricultural croplands are a major source of human-made nitrous oxide emissions, contributing more than one-third of the global total as nitrogen fertilizers decompose in the fields.
• Over the last ten years, China has established an integrated governance framework that utilizes policy guidance, market mechanisms, and technology to manage the low-carbon transition of both the production and application of fertilizers.

APA

RMI (2025). A Decade of Transformation: China's Path to Fertilizer Reduction and Efficiency Gains. https://rmi.org/resources/a-decade-of-transformation-chinas-path-to-fertilizer-reduction-and-efficiency-gains/

Chicago

RMI. A Decade of Transformation: China's Path to Fertilizer Reduction and Efficiency Gains. 2025. https://rmi.org/resources/a-decade-of-transformation-chinas-path-to-fertilizer-reduction-and-efficiency-gains/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=A Decade of Transformation: China's Path to Fertilizer Reduction and Efficiency Gains |date=5 December 2025 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/a-decade-of-transformation-chinas-path-to-fertilizer-reduction-and-efficiency-gains/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2025decade, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{A Decade of Transformation: China's Path to Fertilizer Reduction and Efficiency Gains}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2025}, month = dec, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/a-decade-of-transformation-chinas-path-to-fertilizer-reduction-and-efficiency-gains/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }