Since the Paris Agreement in 2015, it has become clear to everyone that agriculture, in addition to forestry, has a particular importance in the fight against climate change, thanks to the possibility of storing carbon in the soil through the adoption of agroecological practices. During the exchanges at all levels and between all categories of stakeholders, it became clear that the capacity to store carbon in soils was conditioned in large part by the health of the soils.
This subject therefore appears to be the central issue on which future actions should focus in order to face the important challenges of humanity for the next 27 years, namely the fight against climate change, food insecurity, biodiversity erosion and desertification.
Since COP 27, the “4 per 1000” Initiative and the Coalition for Action on Soil Health (CA4SH) have been working hard to bring this issue to the forefront of the global agenda. This side-event aims at convincing people of the importance of presenting a resolution on soil health at the COP 28 in Dubai in December as part of the GSP’s action on “Promote awareness raising and advocacy on soil health.”
The in-person side event will take place in the German Room of the FAO building in Rome (9-10:00am, GMT+2) for registered participants of the GSP Plenary Assembly.
Agenda
Introduction and moderation: Dr. Paul Luu (Executive Secretary of the international “4 per 1000” Initiative)
Keynote speech: Dr. Rattan Lal (Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science, Director of the Carbon Management & Sequestration Center, Ohio State University)
Speakers:
Dr. Leigh Ann Winowiecki (Soil and Land Health Global Research Lead, CIFOR-ICRAF & Co-Lead of CA4SH) on the Soil Health Resolution to be supported at the UNFCCC COP28 in Dubai
Mr. Oliver Oliveros (Coordinator, Agroecology Coalition) on the importance of Agroecology as a vector of action to fight climate change
Mrs. Diane Masure (Farmer Organisation Representative, APAD – GCAN) giving concrete examples of what it is possible in the field
Dr. Arwyn Jones (Joint Research Scientist, EU Soil Observatory) giving a European perspective on land degradation and soil health
Dr. Louis Verchot (Research Leader, Land Restoration Group, Alliance Bioversity International-CIAT) on the importance of Soil Health
Q&A
Wrap up: Dr. Paul Luu