Introducing Nitric Acid Climate Action Group
Objective and vision
Aiming at the climate-friendly transformation of the nitric acid sector on a global scale, the German Government initiated the Nitric Acid Climate Action Group (NACAG). The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is supporting the German Government in implementing the Nitric Acid Climate Action Group.
The objective of NACAG is to promote the installation of effective N2O abatement technology in every nitric acid plant worldwide. To this end, NACAG is offering technical and financial assistance to eligible partner countries.
The approach of the NACAG initiative reflects the paradigm of the Paris Agreement: Germany is providing technical and financial support while partner countries are encouraged to assume responsibility for emission reductions in the future.
NACAG’s offer
The initiative provides all governments and plant operators with guidance and information on technological and regulatory issues regarding N2O abatement. Moreover, NACAG makes available financial support for the installation and operation of abatement technology. This financial support is subject to the condition that partner countries take full responsibility for the mitigation activities– for example, in the context of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This political commitment by partner countries to take abatement into their own hands ensures the sustainability of the initiated activities and the long-term transformation of the sector.
Potential of the initiative: According to NACAG’s estimates, the global nitric acid sector has an average annual emission reduction potential of above 100 million tCO2e until 2030.
Governments, plant operators, further international donors as well as other stakeholders are welcome to join this global action group and, in so doing, contribute to the worldwide transformation of the nitric acid sector.
Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Pakistan, Georgia, Indonesia, Jordan, Mexico, Thailand, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe have signed the Declaration of the NACAG. They thereby express their support for the goals of the alliance. Both governments and private companies are welcome to join the Action Group by signing the non-binding NACAG declaration. However, to qualify for financial support through NACAG, they have to meet certain criteria.
Argentina, Colombia, Georgia, Jordan, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe have also signed the Statement of Undertaking, committing themselves to permanently reduce nitrous oxide emissions from nitric acid production. Following this step, plant operators in these countries became eligible for financial support through NACAG. Additional information on the ongoing tenders for abatement and monitoring equipment in these countries may be found here.
Global overview of nitric acid producing countries.
Number of nitric acid plants worldwide: app. 500
Background Information
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is the third largest contributor to climate change. It has a global warming potential 273 times higher than of CO2 for a 100-year timescale and remains in the atmosphere for an average of 114 years.
One major source of N2O emissions is the manufacture of nitric acid used for producing nitrogen-based fertiliser. Although effective abatement technologies are available at comparably low cost, N2O from nitric acid production continues to be emitted into the atmosphere in most countries in the world.
FAQ – The Nitric Acid Climate Action Group (nitricacidaction.org)
See also:
FAQ (English)
FAQ (Spanish)
FAQ (Russian)
NACAG Factsheet
