The study presents a comprehensive quantification of global nitrous oxide (N₂O) sources and sinks, incorporating both natural and anthropogenic contributions. Using bottom-up and top-down approaches, the researchers estimated global N₂O emissions between 1980 and 2016, finding that global emissions were 17.0 teragrams of nitrogen per year (bottom-up) and 16.9 teragrams of nitrogen per year (top-down) between 2007 and 2016. The increase in human-induced emissions, primarily from nitrogen additions to croplands, was responsible for 30% of the growth in atmospheric N₂O concentrations. The study highlights growing N₂O emissions in emerging economies, particularly Brazil, China, and India, and identifies complex interactions between N₂O fluxes and human-driven changes, such as climate change, increasing atmospheric CO₂, and deforestation. The findings underscore the urgency to mitigate N₂O emissions to align with the long-term goal of the Paris Agreement.The study presents a comprehensive quantification of global nitrous oxide (N₂O) sources and sinks, incorporating both natural and anthropogenic contributions. Using bottom-up and top-down approaches, the researchers estimated global N₂O emissions between 1980 and 2016, finding that global emissions were 17.0 teragrams of nitrogen per year (bottom-up) and 16.9 teragrams of nitrogen per year (top-down) between 2007 and 2016. The increase in human-induced emissions, primarily from nitrogen additions to croplands, was responsible for 30% of the growth in atmospheric N₂O concentrations. The study highlights growing N₂O emissions in emerging economies, particularly Brazil, China, and India, and identifies complex interactions between N₂O fluxes and human-driven changes, such as climate change, increasing atmospheric CO₂, and deforestation. The findings underscore the urgency to mitigate N₂O emissions to align with the long-term goal of the Paris Agreement.