Overview
Soils are the bedrock of our health and prosperity, forming the foundation of our economy and overall wellbeing. Healthy soils are essential for life on Earth. Unfortunately, land and soils are undergoing significant degradation.
As a finite natural resource, soils play a critical role in storing, filtering, and transforming substances, such as water, nutrients, and carbon. They are crucial for climate change mitigation and adaptation, agricultural production, nature preservation, and biodiversity.
Alongside a new Soil Monitoring Law that will guide the EU towards achieving healthy soils by 2050, the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 establishes a framework with specific measures to protect and restore soils while ensuring their sustainable use.
Objectives
Soils are vital for achieving key objectives of the European Green Deal, with the EU's ultimate goal being to ensure healthy soils across the region by 2050, aligning with its Zero Pollution ambition.
To protect human health and the environment, the EU’s soil policy aims to improve soils by:-
- Taking measures to protect and restore soils, ensuring that they are used sustainably;
- Developing the knowledge base and supporting soil research;
- Raising awareness about the vital importance of soils.
The new Soil Monitoring Law, set for approval by 2025, will help achieve these objectives and mark the first-ever EU legislation on soils (view the public consultation here). See below for more on this.
Actions
It aims to protect and restore soils and ensure they are used sustainably.
The EU works with partners worldwide to combat land and soil degradation and desertification.
Its main goal is to establish 100 living labs and lighthouses to transition towards healthy soils by 2030.
Data platform to help monitor progress towards the European soil health objectives and targets.
Other sources of information on the soil and land, including reports, studies and funded projects.
Guidelines
The Commission has prepared a set of best practice guidelines to limit, mitigate or compensate soil sealing. Soil sealing refers to the covering of soil surfaces with materials like concrete and asphalt, typically for new buildings, roads, parking areas, and other public and private spaces. Following the commitment set in the Soil Strategy for 2030, these guidelines are under review.
Soil sealing is a major contributor to soil degradation in the EU. This practice impacts fertile agricultural land, endangers biodiversity, increases the risks of flooding and water scarcity, and contributes to global warming.
Contact
For questions about EU environmental policy, please contact Europe Direct.
