Reactive nitrogen is a vital element for life, agriculture, and energy—but when its balance is disrupted, it contributes to major environmental and health issues, including air pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and risks to drinking water. Despite its importance, scientists still lack a holistic understanding of how reactive nitrogen moves through air, water, and soil, especially as climate change and the energy transition accelerate.

The ETH Domain Joint Initiative ReCLEAN (Reactive nitrogen at the CLimate, Energy, Agriculture, water, and health Nexus) aims to fill this gap. Bringing together experts from EPFL, ETH Zürich, PSI, WSL, and Eawag, ReCLEAN seeks to generate actionable insights that will help guide Switzerland toward an energy transition that is not only low-carbon but also nitrogen-sustainable.

The project has now released ‘This is ReCLEAN’, a behind-the-scenes video introducing the researchers and scientific vision driving the initiative.

Watch the video: This is ReCLEAN

Video produced by Nikitas Diamantopoulos