Nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of six greenhouse gases listed up in the Kyoto Protocol, and it effects a strong global warming because of its much greater global warming potential (GWP), by 310 times over a 100-year time horizon, than CO2. Although such N2O emissions from both natural and anthropogenic sources occur, the latter can be controlled using suitable abatement technologies, depending on them, to reduce N2O below acceptable or feasible levels. This paper has extensively reviewed the anthropogenic N2O emission sources and their related compositions, and the state-of-the-art non-catalytic and catalytic technologies of the emissions controls available currently to representative, large N2O emission sources, such as adipic acid production plants. Challengeable approaches to this source are discussed to promote establishment of advanced N2O emission control technologies.