Synergies of reducing greenhouse gases and atmospheric nitrogen pollutants in China

Abstract Climate change and environmental degradation caused by greenhouse gases (GHGs) and reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions are getting exacerbated globally. As a major emitter of both GHGs and Nr, China faces double pressure of GHGs and Nr mitigation to achieve carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability. This study performed the first integrated analysis of the potential and the synergies of GHG (CO2, CH4, and N2O) and atmospheric Nr pollutant (NOx and NH3) mitigation based on multiple models. Here we show that with an integrated policy implementation, China can achieve a 66% reduction of GHG and 68% of air N pollutants by 2050, which would bring society benefits of 2,500 billion USD, 5 times exceeding the implementation costs. Synergistic emission reductions led by industry would be in advantage until around 2030 with carbon peak achieved, while agriculture-led reductions show improved synergies in abatement potential and cost-effectiveness after peak carbon. This demonstrates that the control priority on GHG and atmospheric Nr pollution needs to be switched in the post-peak period to achieve future zero carbon and clean air in China.