29/04/2023
Introduction to the Page: SANH - Sri Lanka
Atmospheric nitrogen in the form of reactive N (Nr) is essential for life, but N in its reactive forms in excess can cause severe harm to human health (blue baby syndrome, respiratory issues, cancers, etc.) and the environment (global warming and climate change, depletion of the ozone layer, acid rains, eutrophication, nutrient toxicity in soils, soil acidification, depletion of soil biodiversity, etc.). The five principal threats of Nr pollution are to water quality, air quality, greenhouse-gas balance, soil quality, ecosystems and biodiversity. South Asia has been identified as a global hotspot for emissions of Nr species mainly, nitrogen oxides (NOx), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ammonia (NH3) with concentrations above global averages from multiple sectors of agriculture, transportation, industry, and energy. Several global initiatives have been proposed to control and minimize the effect of N pollution. In this regard, Sri Lanka has been at the forefront with the global community and launched the Colombo Declaration on Sustainable Nitrogen Management (SNM) with the ambition of halving the Nr loss by 2030, followed by the Sri Lanka led UN resolution on SNM submitted to the UNEA5.2 assembly which was adopted on 3rd March 2022. Though several notable initiatives have been taken by the Sri Lanka government as stated above, the importance of these actions has not been properly penetrated across related stakeholders and to the general public, and adaptation and mitigation options to reduce Nr losses are not properly investigated and identified.
In attempting to address this problem regionally, the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology (UK CEH) with the support of the UKRI Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) initiated the South Asian Nitrogen Hub (SANH). SANH brings together 32 leading research organizations and project partners from South Asia and the UK to collaboratively work towards enabling South Asia to ‘adopt and champion a strategic approach to sustainable nitrogen management, as a key step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. SANH aims to provide relevant scientific insights, identify barriers to change, and demonstrate the economic benefits of tackling N pollution. SANH includes eight South Asian countries: Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Maldives.
The University of Peradeniya (UOP) and the Ministry of Environment (MOE) are the main Sri Lankan partners of the SANH project which is aimed at assessing the existing status of Nr of related sectors, and policy interventions while developing possible mitigatory solutions, and national action plan for sustainable nitrogen management in collaboration with the UK CEH and SANH.
The University of Peradeniya has been conducting research to assess the present status of Nr pollution in the country, identify potential adaptation and mitigatory solutions, and support decision-makers to amend or introduce new policies to minimize Nr pollution impacts alien with the SANH project by focusing on four main research programs (RP),
RP 1: Building the Nitrogen policy arena
RP 2: N Solutions to Maximize resiliences, co-benefits and reduce trade-offs
RP 3: Improve understanding and awareness of key nitrogen threats to ecosystems
RP 4: Integrating regional nitrogen flows and impacts in South Asia
Through, this page we look forward to approaching the general public, youth, and interested parties in making them aware of nitrogen pollution and the role could be played as an individual or a community in addressing N pollution at the national, regional, and global level. It is time to get together and act together.
So, Let’s be aware and prepared, for another threat to humankind: NITROGEN POLLUTION
Professor S.P. Nissanka
The Scientific Coordinator of SNAH Project - Sri Lanka
