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A critical eutrophication–climate change link

Nature Sustainability volume 8, pages 222–223 (2025)Cite this article

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The science of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from inland waters has evolved in recent years, as we gained a greater appreciation for the contributions of aquatic methanogenesis to the atmospheric GHG budget1,2. It has been estimated that natural lakes and reservoirs — both freshwater and saline (hereafter, ‘lakes’) — emit GHGs at a rate almost equivalent to 20% of all fossil fuel emissions, with an upward trend1. While a portion of these emissions derives from natural (non-anthropogenic) processes, a recent study notes that lake eutrophication, particularly that stemming from phosphorus loading, increases these emissions considerably3. We argue that abatement of lake eutrophication, then, should be addressed as a key climate change mitigation target.

The US Environmental Protection Agency categorizes 50% and 47% of US freshwater lakes in poor condition with respect to phosphorus and nitrogen, respectively, including 30% of lakes that are classified as hypereutrophic4. Indeed, trends over the past decade suggest that freshwater lakes are becoming more eutrophic. We know that anthropogenic drivers are substantial, and humans have mobilized much more phosphorus and nitrogen (hereafter, ‘nutrients’) within the biosphere, particularly over the past century5. We also know that the resulting increase in episodes of hypoxia and harmful algal blooms have broad-ranging, adverse impacts to the health and prosperity of the people, flora and fauna that need the water6.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center under National Science Foundation (NSF) award number CBET-2019435.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Matthew J. Scholz & James J. Elser

  2. Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA

    Daniel R. Obenour

  3. Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Elise S. Morrison

  4. Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, MT, USA

    James J. Elser

Authors
  1. Matthew J. Scholz
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  2. Daniel R. Obenour
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  3. Elise S. Morrison
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  4. James J. Elser
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Correspondence to Matthew J. Scholz.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Nature Sustainability thanks the anonymous reviewers for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Scholz, M.J., Obenour, D.R., Morrison, E.S. et al. A critical eutrophication–climate change link. Nat Sustain 8, 222–223 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01507-3

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