The rising global temperature is accelerating soil degradation, creating a vicious cycle that threatens ecosystems and human life. Yet, a solution to this crisis lies right beneath our feet. Healthy soils are powerful allies in the fight against climate change, driving positive cycles that strengthen ecosystems and make societies more resilient to climate impacts. 🌱

A Dire Situation
The release of the 6th IPCC report in March 2023 underscored the urgency of climate action. The report predicts a 1.5°C rise in global temperatures by 2030, with the potential for disastrous consequences. A rise beyond 2°C could spell catastrophe: frequent heatwaves, vanishing coral reefs, severe droughts in the Mediterranean, and intensified hurricanes. Alpine glaciers may shrink by up to 90%, jeopardising essential water supplies. These impacts could force a billion people into life-threatening situations, potentially triggering mass migration and escalating global humanitarian crises. Nearly 25% of species in the world’s most biodiverse regions are at risk of extinction. ⚠️

Healthy Soils: A Key Ally
Despite these grim projections, soil health stands out as a vital tool in combating climate change. Soils store about 2,500 billion tons of carbon—more than the atmosphere and forests combined. Plants absorb CO2 through photosynthesis, and as they decompose, carbon is stored as organic matter in the soil. This process creates a virtuous cycle: healthier soils store more carbon, mitigate floods, and are crucial in an increasingly drought-prone world. The European Climate Law and Nature Restoration Law recognize the importance of soils as natural carbon sinks, essential for achieving climate neutrality by 2050. 🌍

Climate Change’s Impact on Soil: A Vicious Cycle
Climate change is severely degrading soils:

• Permafrost thaw releases stored carbon, exacerbating climate change.
• Droughts reduce soil’s ability to store carbon and increase erosion risks.
• Floods and mudflows become more common as soils dry and lose structure.
• Clay shrinkage in dry conditions damages infrastructure.
• Salinisation sterilises coastal soils, especially with rising sea levels.
  These effects create a harmful feedback loop that worsens environmental degradation, triggering social and economic instability. 🔄

Reversing the Trend
Reversing this trend requires efforts to restore soil health and enhance carbon sequestration, including:

• Promoting crop diversity to enhance soil structure and prevent erosion.
• Preventing deforestation to maintain vegetation cover, biodiversity, and carbon storage.
• Adopting sustainable land management practices to protect soil’s carbon storage capacity.
• Integrating agroecological approaches to boost soil health while producing food sustainably. 🌾

Conclusion
Soil health is vital in addressing the climate crisis. Due to its carbon storage capabilities, healthy soils are key to mitigating climate change. However, climate change poses significant threats to soil health, triggering a dangerous cycle of environmental degradation. To safeguard our soils and limit climate change impacts, we must adopt sustainable land management practices and prioritise soil restoration efforts. By protecting and restoring soils, we can reduce greenhouse gases and build climate resilience. 🌍❤️

Learn more about the important role of soils in the carbon cycle.