The rate coefficient for the reaction of O(1D) with N2 at 295 K has been measured in three laboratories to be 3.1x10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 with an uncertainty of 10% at the 95% confidence level. The rate coefficient has been shown to decrease with increasing temperature, with an E/R value of (-115 ± 10) K. The implication of this finding is to decrease the calculated OH production rate via the reaction of O(1D) with H2O in the atmosphere by roughly 15% in the mid-troposphere and above and to greatly reduce the uncertainties in the calculated HOx and NOx production rates in the atmosphere.