Soil Is Bigger Carbon Sink Than Previously Thought: Report – Earth.Org

Report on Soil Carbon Sequestration and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A recent report reveals that the world’s topsoils store approximately 2,822 gigatons of carbon, 45% more than previously estimated. This positions soil as a critical, underutilized resource for climate mitigation and the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Healthy soils have the potential to sequester 27% of the carbon emissions required to limit global warming to below 2°C. However, ongoing soil degradation threatens to release significant amounts of CO2, undermining progress on climate action, food security, and biodiversity. The report calls for urgent policy integration, enhanced monitoring, and a global legal framework to protect this vital asset.

Soil’s Critical Role in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13: Climate Action

Soil health is intrinsically linked to climate mitigation and adaptation. Its capacity to act as a carbon sink is a cornerstone of achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.

• Carbon Sequestration Potential: Healthy soils can sequester the equivalent of 3.38 gigatons of CO2 annually, contributing significantly to climate mitigation efforts.
• Threat of Degradation: Conversely, continued soil degradation could release an estimated 4.81 billion metric tons of CO2 per year, exacerbating climate change.
• Climate Adaptation: Healthy soils enhance resilience to climate shocks. They absorb excess water during floods and retain moisture during droughts, supporting agricultural systems and contributing to climate adaptation strategies.

SDG 15: Life on Land & SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The report underscores the direct threat of soil degradation to terrestrial ecosystems and global food security.

• Land Degradation Crisis: Currently, 40% of the Earth’s land is degraded, with projections indicating this could rise to 90% by 2050, directly threatening SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• Foundation for Food Security: As the foundation of agriculture, healthy soil is non-negotiable for achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). Its degradation jeopardizes crop yields and the stability of global food systems.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Investing in soil health presents a significant economic opportunity, aligning with the principles of sustainable economic growth.

• Economic Value: The ecosystem services provided by soil are estimated to be worth over $11 trillion annually.
• High Return on Investment: Every $1 invested in soil regeneration can yield up to $30 in economic returns, demonstrating a powerful business case for sustainable land management.

Policy Gaps and Governance Challenges

Insufficient National Climate Commitments

A major barrier to leveraging soil for climate action is its omission from national policies. Only 30% of nations currently include soil restoration as a climate mitigation solution in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The report highlights a critical lack of quantifiable targets for soil organic carbon, which prevents meaningful action and accountability.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV)

Effective policy requires robust data, which remains a challenge for soil health.

• Baseline Complexity: Establishing an accurate baseline for soil carbon is difficult due to high variability across landscapes.
• Need for Technology: Accurate and scalable MRV systems are essential to quantify carbon sequestration and unlock the potential of soil-based climate solutions.

Current Initiatives and Proposed Frameworks

International and Regional Efforts

Several initiatives are underway to address the policy and data gaps, reflecting a growing recognition of soil’s importance for achieving SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• A Soil Deal for Europe: The EU is investing approximately €1 billion to establish a harmonized soil monitoring framework and 100 Living Labs to promote soil health.
• Global Legal Instrument for Soil Security: The IUCN, EU, and Pan-African Parliament have mandated the development of a global legal framework, similar to those for oceans and climate.
• Resilient Agriculture Investment: At COP30, Brazil launched an initiative to restore degraded farmland and promote sustainable agriculture.

The Soil Security Framework

The report proposes a practical model to reframe soil as a strategic resource. The framework outlines five key dimensions for protection and restoration:

1. Capacity: The inherent properties of the soil.
2. Condition: The current state of soil health.
3. Connectivity: How people and societies value soil.
4. Capital: The economic value and investment in soil.
5. Codification: The legal and policy protections for soil.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article’s central theme is soil health, degradation, and restoration. It directly discusses protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems, which is the core of SDG 15. The text highlights that “40% of Earth’s land is now already degraded and 90% could be degraded by 2050,” emphasizing the urgency of halting land degradation.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article extensively links soil health to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It quantifies the role of topsoils as a “powerful, largely untapped carbon sink,” stating they can sequester “27% of carbon emissions needed to keep global warming below 2C.” It also discusses the importance of healthy soils for climate resilience, noting they “can absorb flood waters, and in drought they hold water like sponges.”

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The connection to food security and sustainable agriculture is clearly made. The article refers to “Agriculture Day” at COP30 and quotes an expert saying, “Living soils are fundamental to agriculture.” It also mentions Brazil’s initiative to “restore degraded farmland and promote sustainable agriculture,” which directly supports the goal of ending hunger and achieving food security.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights the need for global cooperation, policy, and legal frameworks. It mentions international efforts like COP30, the Paris Agreement, the IUCN, the Pan-African Parliament, and the EU’s “A Soil Deal for Europe.” The call for a “Global Legal Instrument for Soil Security” and the critique that soil restoration is not sufficiently included in nations’ NDCs point to the need for stronger global partnerships and policy coherence.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The economic dimension of soil health is quantified, linking it to sustainable economic growth. The article estimates the “economic value of soil’s ecosystem services… at over $11 trillion annually” and states that “every $1 of investment in soil regeneration leading to as much as $30 in economic returns.” This reframes soil as a strategic resource underpinning “economic stability.”

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

1. Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil

   This is the most directly relevant target. The article’s focus on soil degradation rates (“40% of Earth’s land is now already degraded”), the potential for further degradation (“90% could be degraded by 2050”), and the launch of initiatives to “restore degraded farmland” align perfectly with the goal of achieving a land degradation-neutral world.

2. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

   The article critiques the lack of integration of soil health into climate policy. It states that “only 30% of nations include soil restoration as a climate mitigation solution in their COP30 National Determined Contributions (NDCs).” This directly addresses the need to incorporate climate actions, such as carbon sequestration in soils, into national planning frameworks like the NDCs.

3. Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices

   The article advocates for agricultural systems that maintain healthy soils. By describing how “Living soils are fundamental to agriculture” and support crops through climate shocks like floods and droughts, it promotes the resilient agricultural practices mentioned in this target. Brazil’s initiative to “promote sustainable agriculture” is a direct example of an action toward this target.

4. Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development

   The article points out a major policy gap: “soil lacks a global legal protection framework” unlike oceans (UNCLOS) and climate (Paris Agreement). The push by the EU, the Pan-African Parliament, and the IUCN to develop a “Global Legal Instrument for Soil Security” is an explicit effort to enhance policy coherence for the sustainable management of a critical global resource.

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

• Indicator 15.3.1: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area

  The article provides direct data points for this indicator by stating, “40% of Earth’s land is now already degraded and 90% could be degraded by 2050.” These statistics can be used as a baseline to measure progress in halting and reversing land degradation.

• Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development

  The article provides a metric related to this indicator by noting that “only 30% of nations include soil restoration as a climate mitigation solution in their COP30 National Determined Contributions (NDCs).” The percentage of countries including soil health in their NDCs serves as a direct measure of policy integration.

• Implied Indicator: Amount of carbon sequestered in soils

  The article quantifies the potential for soil carbon sequestration, stating that healthy soils can sequester “about 3.38 gigatons of carbon dioxide (Gt CO2) per year.” It also warns that degradation could release “4.81 billion metric tons of CO2 per year.” These figures can be used as indicators to measure the effectiveness of soil restoration efforts in mitigating climate change.

• Implied Indicator: Financial investment in soil health

  The article mentions a specific financial commitment: the EU’s “A Soil Deal for Europe has an estimated investment of around 1 billion euros (US$1.15 billion) up to 2028.” This figure serves as a tangible indicator of financial resources being mobilized for soil restoration and monitoring, which is crucial for achieving the related targets.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: earth.org