Climate Facts: Nitrous Oxide increased by 18% in last 100 years

The complexities of climate change and its associated jargon can make it difficult to digest. TheCable’s climate quick facts will help to demystify these climate concepts through easy-to-understand and straight-to-the-point explanations.

Here are some to keep at the tip of your fingers:

• According to the United Nations, healthy ecosystems can provide 37 percent of the mitigation needed to limit global temperature rise.
• The UN also noted that 25 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from land clearing, crop production and fertilization, with animal-based food contributing 75 percent of that.
• Roughly 500 million people live in areas that experience desertification, the UN said.
• The UN said less than 1 percent of the total land is used for mining but the industry has significantly negative impacts on biodiversity, emissions, water quality and human health.
• Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas produced by farming practices and is released during fertilizer production and use. Nitrous oxide has increased by 18 percent in the last 100 years, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).