Citation:

Castner, E., A. Leach, N. Leary, J. Baron, J. Compton, J. Galloway, M. Hastings, J. Kimiecik, J. Lantz-Trissel, E. de la Reguera, AND R. Ryals. The nitrogen footprint tool network: a multi-institution program to reduce nitrogen pollution. Sustainability: The Journal of Record. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., New Rochelle, NY, 10(2):79-88, (2017).

Impact/Purpose:

This paper presents the institution nitrogen footprint results for seven institutions that are part of the Nitrogen Footprint Network: Marine Biological Laboratory, Eastern Mennonite University, Dickinson College, Brown University, University of New Hampshire, Colorado State University, and University of Virginia. The authors discuss the major results from these seven institutions and the implications for sustainability and management, emphasizing paths toward nitrogen footprint reduction strategies. The paper will be submitted to the journal Sustainability: The Journal of Record as part of a special issue on institutional nitrogen footprints. It contributes to SHC 4.61.

Description:

Anthropogenic sources of reactive nitrogen have local and global impacts on air and water quality and detrimental effects on human and ecosystem health. This paper uses the nitrogen footprint tool (NFT) to determine the amount of nitrogen (N) released as a result of institutional consumption. The sectors accounted for include food (consumption and the upstream production), energy, transportation, fertilizer, research animals, and agricultural research. The NFT is then used for scenario analysis to manage and track reductions to institution N footprints, which are driven by the consumption behaviors of both the institution itself and its constituent individuals. In this paper, the first seven institution N footprint results are presented. The institution NFT network aims to develop footprints for many institutions to encourage widespread upper-level management strategies that will create significant reductions in reactive N released to the environment. Energy use and food purchases are the two largest contributors to institution N footprints. Ongoing efforts by institutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions also help to reduce the N footprint, but the impact of food production on N pollution has not been directly addressed by the higher-ed sustainability community. The NFT Network found that institutions could reduce their N footprints by optimizing food purchasing to reduce consumption of animal products and minimize food waste, as well as reducing dependence on fossil fuels for energy.

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