Posted on November, 12, 2024 at 05:12 pm
As world leaders, activists, and scientists gather in Baku, Azerbaijan, for COP29, North Carolina will have a voice at the table. Daniel Lapidus, director of sustainable agriculture and food systems at RTI International, headquartered in Research Triangle Park, is representing the state on the global stage, sharing innovative research on sustainable agriculture and green fertilizers.
The United Nations climate summit, which began Monday, is expected to confront the growing impacts of climate change with a renewed focus on funding adaptation efforts in vulnerable nations. High on the agenda is the responsibility of wealthier countries to support these efforts, allowing developing nations to better adapt to climate threats while reducing emissions.
On Nov. 19, Lapidus will discuss RTI's work in sustainable agriculture, particularly its development of green ammonia technology—a cleaner alternative to traditional fertilizers reliant on fossil fuels. This green ammonia can power industries from shipping to agriculture while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our research underscores the potential of green ammonia as a game-changer for agriculture and the broader renewable energy landscape,” Lapidus said. “At COP29, we hope to bring attention to practical solutions that address both climate change and food security challenges.”
Developed by RTI over the past seven years, green ammonia is produced using renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen then combines with nitrogen from the air to create ammonia, drastically reducing emissions. “Replacing all traditional ammonia production with renewable energy sources could have an environmental impact equivalent to removing more than 120 million cars from the road,” Lapidus said.
Dr. David Dayton, senior fellow and biofuels director at RTI, gave WRAL a lab demonstration at RTI on Monday to showcase the research. "Renewable energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s not always available,” Dayton said. “Green ammonia can store that energy and make it usable.”
RTI is leading pilot projects in the United States and exploring applications in countries with strong renewable energy resources. Recent studies funded by RTI suggest that scaling up green fertilizer production in African nations could improve food security while reducing economic vulnerabilities and driving green industrialization.
This year’s COP29 is expected to bring new attention to climate finance, especially for developing nations lacking resources to adapt to climate impacts. RTI hopes to use these discussions to build support for green ammonia and other climate-resilient technologies. “We’re going to need every kind of solution to avoid the worst impacts of climate change,” Lapidus said.
COP29, held this year in Baku—a location historically tied to fossil fuel production—has attracted criticism for its slow pace in enacting climate action. Still, officials, including COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev, maintain that discussions on climate finance are advancing. Funding agreements may reach as much as $1.3 trillion annually to support climate action in developing nations, a significant increase from previous targets.
For Lapidus and the RTI team, COP29 is an opportunity to promote actionable research while advocating for climate finance commitments from major nations.
Source: WRAL