10 Emerging Technology Solutions for Planetary Health 2025

Finance lens Investment in electrolysers, pilot projects and infrastructure could lower long-term costs and expand regional capacity; however, without targeted incentives, high capital costs may limit adoption to export hubs. Falling prices for conventional Haber-Bosch ammonia further delay adoption, especially in agriculture, where farmers face tight margins and price remains a critical factor.Equity lens Local production using renewables and desalinated water could improve fertilizer access in import-dependent regions. If deployment favours global shipping routes over local needs, benefits may bypass the communities most affected by fertilizer price shocks.Policy lens National strategies, procurement standards and permitting frameworks can support green ammonia as a decarbonization tool. Without clear safeguards, conventional, fossil-fuelled ammonia production with partial carbon capture may be promoted as “low-carbon”, limiting support for truly green alternatives.Make or break The success of green ammonia may depend on supportive policy frameworks, targeted investment in infrastructure and equitable access to locally beneficial production. Planetary boundaries supported by green ammonia → Climate change: Eliminates fossil fuel use in hydrogen production and synthesis, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from one of the world’s most energy- and carbon-intensive chemical processes. → Ocean acidification: Avoids CO2 emissions from conventional ammonia production, helping reduce the absorption of carbon dioxide in oceans.→ Biogeochemical flows: Supports more distributed, on-demand fertilizer production, reducing nitrogen waste associated with transport and overapplication. CO 2- concen- trationRadiative forcing P cycleGreen waterFunctional integrity Blue water N cycle Modification of biogeochemical flowsGenetic diversityClimate change Land-system change Increase in atmospheric aerosol loading Ocean acidificationFreshwater changeStratospheric ozone depletionChange in biosphere integrityOverloading with novel entitiesPlanetary boundaryHigh-risk line 10 Emerging Technology Solutions for Planetary Health 12