Information for participants on INMS and the N issue

This page has been set up to allow participants of the IWC8 Conference access to further information on the INMS project and the issue of Reactive Nitrogen in the environment, including links to policy.

The INMS project is currently in its PPG phase and is due to start in Autumn 2016.

What is the project?

'Targeted Research for improving understanding of the Global Nitrogen Cycle towards the establishment of an International Nitrogen Management System (INMS)' is a project proposal to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund. INMS is a science-policy support process that brings together people, information, approaches, indicators, cost-benefit analysis, regional demonstration, etc as a basis to support governments and others through international nitrogen policy processes. The big message is to count the co-benefits of a joined-up nitrogen approach. By addressing better management across the nitrogen cycle, we can contribute to improving Economy-Wide Nitrogen Use Efficiency, while reducing surplus that would often be wasted as pollution.

How is it being administered?

The project is funded through the International Waters Focal Area of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It is executed through the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and its Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), based in Edinburgh, on behalf of the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI).

Links to background project documents, can be found under the 'documents' tab, further recent documents of relevance to Nitrogen issues and the INMS project:

Our Nutrient World - This report draws attention to the multiple benefits and threats of human nutrient use. It highlights how nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers are estimated to feed half the human population alive today, and how they will remain critical in the future, especially given increasing population and potential bioenergy needs. Yet high nutrient use has created a web of pollution affecting the environment and human health, while insufficient access to nutrients has led to soil degradation, causing food insecurity and exacerbating loss of natural ecosystems. The report shows how these problems cross all global change challenges, threatening water, air and soil quality, climate balance, stratospheric ozone and biodiversity.

Nitrogen on the Table - Report ‘N on the Table: The influence of food choices on nitrogen emissions and the European environment’ which was launched at the European Parliament in January 2016.