On September 18, 2024, the joint conference of a research project, co-funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), was held at Zhejiang University (ZJU). The American task force was led by Xin Zhang, a professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), while the Chinese task force was led by Xiaoyuan Yan, a professor at the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Baojing Gu, a professor from the School of Environmental and Resource Sciences at ZJU.
During the meeting, the research team alongside key stakeholders discussed the potential bilateral collaborations aimed at reducing emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas, as outlined in the Sunnylands Statement. UMCES Professors, Eric Davidson and Bill Dennison, introduced relevant policies and facilitated group discussions.
Following the meeting, both parties began jointly drafting the "Hangzhou Joint Statement," which emphasizes the need for strengthened U.S.-China collaboration to address nitrogen management and reduce N₂O emissions. This partnership a vital step toward fulfilling climate commitments outlined in the Sunnylands Statement for bilateral US-China collaboration on greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
The Hangzhou Joint Statement calls for:
- Developing National Action Plans to curb agricultural N₂O emissions and include N2O in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Climate Agreement .
- Expanding cross-disciplinary and cross-sector partnerships to address the shared challenges of N₂O abatement.
- Leveraging agricultural trade to optimize sustainability for both countries.
- Sharing knowledge and advancing education to equip future leaders in sustainable nitrogen management.
- These collaborative efforts have the potential to set a global example for sustainable nitrogen management, reinforcing our commitment to address climate challenges through strategic international partnerships.
