Synergies of reducing greenhouse gases and atmospheric nitrogen pollutants in China

Climate change and environmental degradation driven by greenhouse gases (GHGs) and reactive nitrogen (N_r) emissions are escalating globally. As a major emitter of both, China faces dual challenges in mitigating GHGs and N_r to achieve carbon neutrality and sustainability. This study evaluates the potential and synergies of GHG (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O) and atmospheric N_r pollutant (NO_x and NH₃) mitigation based on a multi-model framework. Our findings indicate that with a co-control solution, China could reduce GHG emissions by up to 75% and atmospheric N_r pollutants by 60% in 2050, delivering societal benefits of US$959 billion—five times the implementation costs. When both GHG and N_r control strategies are fully deployed, industry-driven emission reductions will be dominant until around 2030, coinciding with China’s carbon peak target. However, after the carbon peak, agriculture-led reductions will enhance synergies in abatement potential and cost-effectiveness. This underscores the need to shift the priority of GHG and atmospheric N_r pollution control during post-peak, to boost zero carbon and clean air in China.