Why 2024 is a pivotal year for our soil

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Earth.org or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Soil health has become a pressing global concern, especially as it acts as one of the largest carbon sinks on the planet
• Yet, 52% of soil worldwide is degraded, threatening its ability to store carbon and support agriculture
• At recent UN summits, including COP28 and COP29, leaders emphasized the need for regenerative soil policies to mitigate these impacts.

🔭 The context: Soil's degradation can have cascading effects, affecting food production, water filtration, and carbon storage
• The Global Stocktake at COP28 failed to explicitly address soil health, despite its central role in sustainable land management

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Healthy soil is vital for reducing global carbon emissions and ensuring food security for over 8 billion people
• It also supports biodiversity, housing more than half of Earth's species

⏭️ What's next: Upcoming summits, including COP29 and the UNCCD COP16, provide opportunities to make soil health a priority
• Global incentives and support for regenerative practices will be crucial

💬 One quote: "2024 is the year we should reach a global agreement on soil protection, and put legislation in place that strives for a minimum of 3-6% organic content in our soils."

📈 One stat: Soil degradation could reach 90% by 2050 if immediate action is not taken.

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