SOIL+ SDGs Resource Centre
Globally, we are at a crossroads. The interconnectedness of global challenges – which are captured in the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 – calls for holistic solutions that not only avoid adversely impacting other areas of development, but actively address them at all scales and in all sectors.
The SDGs call for a “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future;” true sustainability necessitates holistic approaches that are beneficial at scale and across time.
The challenge here is identifying where to focus our time, money, and energy when there are several nature-based solutions on the table. One such force majeure, which is argued to address all 17 SDGs at the same time, is - you guessed it - right beneath our feet.
At first glance, soil may only be intuitively linked to a few of the SDGs like Zero Hunger (SDG2) or Life on Land (SDG15), since it is the foundation of our food systems and the land we live on. However, research from Lal et al (2021) provides a comprehensive analysis of how soil is related to all 17 SDGs, and how achieving critical SDGs by 2030 is not out of reach when grounded in soil and land restoration.
To help underscore the importance of healthy soil to achieving the SDGs, we’ve summarized the connections below and provided links for further reading. It’s our hope that this will provide a helpful resource and starting point for advocates to communicate the central role of soil.
SDG1: No Poverty
SDG2: Zero Hunger
SDG3: Good Health & Well-Being
SDG4: Quality Education
SDG5: Gender Equality
SDG6: Clean Water & Sanitation
SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
SDG9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG10: Reduced Inequalities
SDG11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG13: Climate Action
SDG14: Life Below Water
SDG15: Life on Land
SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
SDG17: Partnerships for the Goals
SOIL+ SDGs is an initiative of the CA4SH Engagement Working Group
Submit a resource
Resources can be anything relating soil health with any of the SDGs. This includes scientific literature, policy documents or decisions, op-eds, blogs, videos, and everything else! We are also interested in learning about how your organisation addresses the SDGs through soil health, so we can demonstrate this in practice.
If you have a question for the team, please contact communications@coalitionforsoilhealth.org, or fill in the form below and we will get in touch ASAP.