How soil could be the secret weapon to meet climate targets – Euronews.com

Report on Soil Security and its Role in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report outlines the critical role of soil health in achieving global climate targets and the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recent findings indicate that soil’s capacity for carbon storage has been significantly underestimated, presenting a vital opportunity for climate mitigation. However, widespread soil degradation threatens to undermine these benefits and poses a significant risk to several SDGs. The report calls for the integration of soil security into international climate policy, particularly National Determined Contributions (NDCs), to leverage this “quiet infrastructure” in the pursuit of **SDG 13 (Climate Action)**, **SDG 15 (Life on Land)**, and **SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)**.

Soil’s Contribution to Climate Action (SDG 13)

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Healthy soil is the largest terrestrial carbon sink and is fundamental to meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Its potential for climate change mitigation is substantial:

• Soils store over 2,800 gigatonnes of carbon in the top metre, a 45% increase from previous estimates of 1,500 gigatonnes.
• Proper management could enable soils to sequester approximately 3.38 gigatonnes of CO₂ per year.
• This sequestration capacity could account for 27% of the carbon emissions reductions needed to keep global warming below the 2℃ threshold.
• The “four per 1,000” initiative, introduced at COP21, illustrates that a 0.4% annual increase in carbon stocks in agricultural soils could offset nearly all annual greenhouse gas emissions.

The Threat of Soil Degradation to Climate Goals

While healthy soils sequester carbon, degraded soils release it, directly impeding progress on **SDG 13**. The scale of this threat is significant:

• Current rates of degradation risk releasing 4.81 billion tonnes of CO₂ from soils annually, an amount comparable to the yearly emissions of the United States.
• In the US alone, CO₂ emissions from soils are equivalent to those of 75 million cars.
• A release of just 1% of the carbon stored in Europe’s soils would be equivalent to the annual emissions of one billion cars.

Linkages to Life on Land and Zero Hunger (SDG 15 & SDG 2)

Combating Land Degradation (SDG 15.3)

The protection and restoration of soil are central to achieving **SDG 15**, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Current trends are alarming:

1. An estimated 40% of the Earth’s land is already degraded.
2. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation projects this figure could rise to 90% by 2050 if current practices continue.
3. Primary drivers of degradation include unsustainable farming practices, deforestation, overgrazing, and intensive agriculture.

Ensuring Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4)

Soil health is the foundation of global food systems and is therefore essential for **SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)**. It regulates water cycles, mitigates droughts and floods, and supports nearly all food production. Promoting soil health can be achieved through sustainable farming practices that support both ecological and food security goals, such as:

• Crop rotation
• The use of cover crops to add organic matter
• Composting and avoiding chemical inputs

Policy Gaps and Recommendations for Global Action

Current Policy Shortcomings

Despite its importance, soil health remains a low priority in global climate policy. A significant policy gap exists, with a staggering 70% of nations failing to include soil restoration as a climate mitigation solution in their 2035 National Determined Contributions (NDCs). This oversight hinders the achievement of multiple SDGs.

Recommendations for Integrated Policy

To secure soil for future generations and harness its potential, concerted action is required. The following recommendations are proposed:

1. Incorporate specific, measurable targets for soil protection and restoration into national climate plans (NDCs) to advance **SDG 13 (Climate Action)**.
2. Establish a comprehensive international treaty or other binding legal instrument dedicated to soil security, directly supporting the objectives of **SDG 15 (Life on Land)**.
3. Foster multi-stakeholder partnerships between policymakers, farmers, companies, and consumers to promote soil health, in line with **SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)**.
4. Formally recognize soil as a living entity and a generational responsibility, essential for climate change mitigation and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The article is centered on climate change mitigation, discussing the importance of meeting global climate targets like the Paris Agreement. It highlights soil’s role as a major carbon sink and its potential to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The core topic is soil health, a fundamental component of terrestrial ecosystems. The article discusses soil degradation, its causes (unsustainable farming, deforestation), and the urgent need for soil restoration and protection to prevent further damage to land.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article connects soil health directly to food production by stating that soil is “responsible for feeding almost the entire planet.” The promotion of sustainable farming practices to improve soil quality is linked to ensuring sustainable food production systems.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article mentions international initiatives like France’s “four per 1,000 initiative” and collaborative reports by multiple organizations (Aroura Soil Security Think Tank, IUCN WCEL, Save Soil campaign). It also calls for concerted international action and legal frameworks, highlighting the need for partnerships to achieve soil security.

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

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
  • The article directly addresses this by pointing out that “a staggering 70 per cent of nations ignore soil restoration as a climate mitigation solution in their national climate plans for 2035.” It calls for countries to “commit to intentionally enhancing soil carbon as part of international climate action.”

SDG 15: Life on Land

• 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.
  • This target is central to the article’s message. It quantifies the problem by stating “40 per cent of Earth’s land is already degraded,” warns it could reach “90 per cent by 2050,” and discusses the causes and solutions for soil degradation.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• 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 article advocates for “sustainable farming practices like crop rotation and cover crops” as a way to stop soil degradation and keep soil healthy, which directly supports this target.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.
  • The article calls for changing the “current legal status of soil” and establishing a “comprehensive international treaty or other binding legal instrument for soil security,” which is a call for greater policy coherence at the global level.

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

Indicators for SDG 13 (Climate Action)

• Carbon sequestration potential: The article provides a specific metric: increasing global agricultural soil carbon stocks by “0.4 per cent per year” could offset nearly all annual greenhouse gas emissions.
• Gigatonnes of CO₂ sequestered: Progress can be measured against the potential of healthy soils to sequester “3.38 gigatonnes of CO₂ per year.”
• Integration into national plans: An indicator is the “percentage of nations” that include soil restoration in their National Determined Contributions (NDCs). The article provides a baseline of only 30% (as 70% currently ignore it).

Indicators for SDG 15 (Life on Land)

• Proportion of land that is degraded: The article provides a clear baseline indicator: “40 per cent of Earth’s land is already degraded.” Progress would be a reduction in this percentage over time.
• Rate of CO₂ emissions from degraded soils: The article states that degraded soils risk releasing “4.81 billion tonnes of CO₂ each year.” This figure can be used as an indicator to track the impact of land degradation.

Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

• Adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: The article implies that the extent to which practices like “crop rotation and cover crops” are used can serve as an indicator for improving soil quality within food production systems.

Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

• Establishment of international legal instruments: Progress can be measured by the development and adoption of a “comprehensive international treaty or other binding legal instrument for soil security,” which the article notes is currently absent.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: euronews.com