Brussels’ soil is almost completely degraded, report warns – The Brussels Times

Report on Soil Degradation in Brussels and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A recent report published by the Aroura Think Tank, the IUCN’s World Commission on Environmental Law, and the Save Soil movement reveals a critical environmental issue in the Brussels-Capital Region. The findings indicate that 98% of the region’s soil is severely degraded when assessed against stringent European standards. This degradation poses a significant threat to the achievement of several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those related to life on land, climate action, sustainable cities, and food security.

State of Soil Degradation: A Challenge to SDG 15 (Life on Land)

The report highlights an alarming rate of land degradation that directly contravenes the targets of SDG 15, which aims to halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss.

• An analysis by Brussels Environment found 40% of soil across 800 sites was degraded due to chemical pollution, compaction, and loss of organic matter.
• Stricter European benchmarks indicate that urbanisation and soil artificialisation have pushed the degradation level to 98% in the region.
• This rate is significantly higher than the Belgian and European average of 60-70% and the global average of 20-40%.

Implications for Climate Action and Urban Sustainability (SDG 13 & SDG 11)

The health of urban soil is intrinsically linked to climate resilience and sustainable city development, impacting SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

• Healthy soil acts as a crucial carbon sink, but its degradation has transformed it into a net emitter of carbon, undermining climate mitigation efforts.
• The report critically notes that 70% of national climate plans under the Paris Agreement fail to address soil management, representing a major policy gap in achieving SDG 13.
• Urban sprawl and soil artificialisation, identified as major challenges in Belgium, compromise the objectives of SDG 11 by degrading the urban ecosystem and its resilience.
• The reduced capacity of forests to absorb carbon, exacerbated by climate change, further compounds these challenges.

Socio-Economic Impacts and Food Security (SDG 2)

The chronic degradation of soil has far-reaching consequences for biodiversity, economic stability, and food security, which is central to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

• Degraded soil threatens local biodiversity and compromises food security by reducing agricultural productivity.
• The global economic cost of soil degradation is estimated at approximately $11 billion (€9.54 billion) annually.

Recommendations for Restoration and Sustainable Management

To address this crisis and align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the report proposes a multi-faceted approach focused on policy, practice, and legal frameworks.

1. Promote Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Implement regenerative farming and soil-focused management techniques to reverse damage and support SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
2. Strengthen Legal Frameworks: Establish legally binding international measures to protect and restore soil, securing this vital resource for future generations and creating a stable policy environment for achieving the SDGs.
3. Integrate Soil into Climate Policy: Ensure that national climate action plans fully incorporate soil management as a key strategy for carbon sequestration, directly contributing to SDG 13.
4. Enhance Education and Awareness: Launch educational initiatives to inform policymakers and the public about the critical role of soil health in achieving environmental and developmental goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article’s central theme is soil degradation, which directly relates to protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. It highlights that “98% of the soil in Brussels would be classified as degraded” and discusses the need to reverse this damage.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article explicitly links soil health to climate change, stating that healthy soil is an “effective carbon sink.” It criticizes that “70% of national climate plans under the Paris Agreement neglect to address soil management” and notes that degraded soil can become a “net emitter of carbon.”
3. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The connection is made through the statement that “Healthy soil is crucial not just for biodiversity and food security.” The article also advocates for “regenerative farming practices” and “soil-focused agricultural management” to restore soil health, which are essential for sustainable food production.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article focuses on the urban environment of Brussels, citing “urbanisation and soil artificialisation” and “urban sprawl” as major challenges for soil use. This directly addresses the impact of urban development on land and ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
   • The article is entirely focused on this target. It quantifies the extent of soil degradation in Brussels (98%), Belgium and Europe (60-70%), and globally (20-40%). The call for legally binding measures to “protect and restore soil” is a direct appeal to achieve this target.
2. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • The report’s finding that “70% of national climate plans under the Paris Agreement neglect to address soil management” directly points to a failure to meet this target. The article argues for the inclusion of soil health in climate strategies due to its capacity to “sequester carbon.”
3. Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems… and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
   • The recommendation to implement “regenerative farming practices” and “soil-focused agricultural management” aligns perfectly with this target’s goal of improving soil quality through sustainable agriculture.
4. Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
   • The article identifies “artificialisation and urban sprawl” in the Brussels-Capital Region as “major challenges for soil use,” highlighting the negative impacts of current urban planning and management practices on land resources, which this target aims to address.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 15.3 (Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area):
   • The article provides explicit data points for this indicator. It states that “98% of the soil in Brussels” is degraded, “60% to 70%” across Belgium and Europe, and “20% to 40% globally.” These percentages are direct measurements of land degradation.
2. Indicator for Target 13.2 (Number of countries with integrated national climate plans):
   • The article implies a qualitative indicator by stating that “70% of national climate plans under the Paris Agreement neglect to address soil management.” Progress could be measured by the percentage of national climate plans that successfully integrate soil health and management policies.
3. Indicator for Target 2.4 (Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture):
   • While no specific number is given, the article implies this indicator by advocating for “regenerative farming practices” and “soil-focused agricultural management.” Measuring the adoption rate of these practices would serve as an indicator of progress.
4. Indicator for Target 11.3 (Land consumption rate):
   • The article implies this indicator by citing “artificialisation and urban sprawl as major challenges.” The rate of soil artificialisation (the covering of natural soil with impermeable materials) is a direct measure of unsustainable urban land use.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: brusselstimes.com