EMG Nexus Dialogue on Sustainable Nitrogen Management

Geneva, Switzerland - The Environment Management Group (EMG), together with UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and FAO, organized a Nexus Dialogue on Sustainable Nitrogen Management at the International Environment House in Geneva, Switzerland. This dialogue aimed to spur further understanding of sustainable nitrogen use and management, while developing common objectives and messages amongst EMG members, 51 specialized agencies, programmes and organizations of the United Nations.

Bringing together a diverse range of key actors and their expertise, the dialogue invited participants from UNICEF, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Air and Water conventions, World Health Organization (WHO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Geneva Environment Network (GEN) and other UN entities and partners. FAO colleagues from the Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) and the Liaison Office in Geneva participated in the dialogue.

The meeting harnessed collective strengths and specialized expertise of UN entities on the issue of nitrogen and highlighted the benefits of sustainable nitrogen management through coordinated action among relevant stakeholders, which could create a win-win situation for the environment, food security, human health and economy. It provided a space for discussion on the linkages between nitrogen and food systems, climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, with references to the two international agreements - the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement. FAO shared its work on sustainable nitrogen management in agrifood systems, particularly on producing data and statistics on global nitrogen emissions in livestock supply chains, providing technical guidance on reducing nitrogen pollution and the Livestock Environmental Assessment Performance Partnership (LEAP).

There was consensus among the participants on the need for a clearer understanding of this topic among EMG members and stakeholders, which could be addressed through awareness raising campaigns. Much like the climate movement, youth groups should be engaged to build momentum for global and local movement for sustainable nitrogen management. The participants also discussed the application of the One UN approach, as well as multistakeholder and multisectoral approaches to be explored at country level to address how UN agencies, ministries, sectors and stakeholders can come together to tackle this topic.

Spotlighting countries which are leading efforts on sustainable nitrogen management as Champions can also increase political momentum and promote peer-to-peer learning and exchange of good practices. To ensure policy coherence, linkages with other interrelated issues such as biodiversity loss (Target 7 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework specifically addresses pollution from nutrients), climate change, ecosystem degradation, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and human rights should be explored.

Moving forward, participating agencies will develop a joint technical document on the topic of sustainable nitrogen management with different perspectives from agriculture, food security, economics, Human Rights, and health. The EMG Secretariat, along with UNEP and FAO will develop a joint summary report of the dialogue which will be made available to the public on the EMG website.

More resources:

FAO Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) webpage

FAO Livestock and the environment webpage