Where to find soil in the decisions from the UNFCCC COP27
Soil is the World’s third-largest carbon sink and at the heart of food systems, global biodiversity and resilient landscapes. At the 27th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP27), the global soil health movement helped soil receive due attention in the climate negotiations.
Soil has never before been officially recognized at the COP, which is why CA4SH got involved by co-leading the first-ever Food Systems Pavilion. Through our BOOST Day, we brought key soil actors together to affirm the role that soil plays in transforming food systems and climate resilience, endorse the need for further engagement from all sectors in scaling soil health, and to strengthen and scale existing methodologies for monitoring and safeguarding global soils.
Several decisions concerning soil and land health resulted from the proceedings in the Koronivia joint work on agriculture. Here they are:
“Highlighting that farmers, including smallholders and pastoralists, are stewards of the land and are inclined to apply sustainable land management approaches, and acknowledging that their vulnerability to climate change presents a challenge in fulfilling this important role and that policy responses in agriculture are more likely to succeed if they consider the role of farmers as key agents of change,
Takes note of the following recommendations on the different workshop reports under the Koronivia joint work on agriculture identified and agreed in conclusions of the subsidiary bodies, recognizing that related policies and their implementation are context-specific and take into account national circumstances:
(g) Also recognized that issues relating to soil carbon, soil health and soil fertility, as well as sustainable soil and integrated water management, are context-specific and, taking into account countries’ circumstances, should be dealt with in a holistic and inclusive manner to realize the full potential of increased productivity in contributing to food security, adaptation and adaptation co-benefits as well as enhancing carbon sinks;
(h) Further recognized that soil and nutrient management practices and the optimal use of nutrients, including organic fertilizer and enhanced manure management, lie at the core of climate-resilient, sustainable food production systems and can contribute to global food security;
(o) Noted the importance of considering sustainable land and water management for agriculture in a systemic and integrated manner informed by scientific, local and indigenous knowledge implemented in a participatory and inclusive manner and taking into consideration regional, national and local circumstances to deliver a range of multiple benefits, where applicable, such as adaptation, adaptation co-benefits and mitigation, to ensure food security and nutrition;
(q) Noted that implementing sustainable approaches can render multiple benefits for society, such as improved water quality, higher biodiversity and increased soil organic matter, and also noted the value of incorporating diversification, recycling and efficiency, and supporting synergies within agricultural systems;
(t) Noted that many approaches with high potential for adaptation, adaptation co-benefits and mitigation relate to land and food systems, such as conserving and restoring ecosystems, improving sustainability of agricultural practices and reducing food loss and waste from sustainable food systems, and have significant positive direct and indirect links with biodiversity and ecosystem services, food security and the Sustainable Development Goals;”
In Summary
Farmers at all scales are on the frontlines and at the heart of climate change and the fight against it
We need an enabling policy environment that supports farmers in utilising sustainable land management practices
Actions, including policy, need to be context-specific to acheive food security, climate resilience and carbon sequestration
Healthy soil and land is at the core of food security and environmental and social co-benefits
Sustainable land and water management need to be implemented in an inclusive, integrated way that prioritises indigenous knowledge and well-being
What’s next
CA4SH’s objective is to work alongside public, private and research institutions to scale global soil health with tools, investments and an enabling environment to increase the global hectares of land under sustainable land management practices. Being a 1-year-old coalition, seeing the decisions from COP27 is just the start for us. We have big plans for future COPs and the global soil health movement.
Building from the current state of soil in the COP negotiations, we are calling on Member States and interested stakeholders to contribute to the development and formalisation of an official soil health resolution for COP28.
Together, we can urge Member States to make soil more prominent in the negotiations.
Find out more and how below:
