COM(2021) 699

I ntroduction Too few know that t he thin layer that lies below our feet holds our future. S oil and the multitude of organisms that live in it provide us with food , biomass and fibres , raw materials , regulate the water, carbon and nutrient cycles and make life on land possible. It take s thousands of years to produce a few centimetres of this magic carpet. S oil hosts more than 25% of all biodiversity on the planet and is the foundation of the food chains nourishing humanity and above ground biodiversity. This fragile layer will be expected to feed and filter drinking water fit for consumption to a global population of nearly 10 billion people by 2050 . Healthy soils are also the largest terrestrial carbon pool on the planet. This feature , coupled with their sponge-like function to absorb water and reduce the risk of flooding and drought, make s soil an indispensable ally for climate change mitigation and adaptation . H ealthy soils therefore integrate part of the Union’s climate, biodiversity and also long - term economic objectives . The EU ’s rich soil patrimony features a myriad soil types (covering 24 of the world’s 32 major soil groups), each with its own identity and specific characteristics . Such richness is a n asset that needs to be protected and preserved for future generations . Yet, our soils are suffering. It has been estimated that about 60 to 70% of soils in the EU are not healthy . L and and soil continue to be subject t o severe degradation processes such as erosion, compaction, organic matter decline, pollution, loss of biodiversity, salini s ation and sealing . This damage is the result of unsustainable land use and management, overexploitation and emissions of pollutant s . For example, e very year, about 1 billion tonnes of soil are washed away by erosion in Europe . B etween 2012 and 201 8 more than 400 km² of land was taken per year in the EU on a net basis . C ropland and grasslands in the EU provide EUR 76 billion worth of ecosyste m services per year : less than one third c o me from crop production , the rest from other ecosystem services . However , while the benefits of healthy soil s and the costs of soil degradation together with the depletion of its ecosystem services are shared by the public and the land user s , the latter ha ve most of the prerogative on its use and management. Furthermore, t he value of the soil capital must be properly reflected in natural capital accounts so that our dependence on it becomes more visible. To avoid the risks and impacts that continued soil degradation has on the economy and people’s wellbeing, s oils deserve the utmost and urgent attention of g overnments, p arliament s , public authorities at all levels as well economic operators, soil users , local communities and citizens . Investing in prevention and restoration of soil degradation makes sound economic sense. As the EU’s largest terrestrial ecosystem, healthy soils sustain many sectors of the economy while soil degradation is costing the EU several tens of billion euros per year . Management practices that sustain and enhance soil health and biodiversity improve cost efficiency and limit the inputs (e.g. pesticides, fertilisers) needed to maintain yields. Halting and reversing current trends of soil degradation could generate up to EUR 1.2 trillion per year in economic benefits globally . T he cost of inaction on soil degradation , which outweighs the cost of action by a factor of 6 in Europe , goes beyond the economic calculation; it would not only lead to fertility loss comprising global food security, but also impact on the quality of products and their nutritional value . To reap the benefits of healthy soils for people, food, nature and climate , the EU needs a renewed Soil S trategy that set s out a framework and concrete measures for protect ing , restor ing and sustainabl y us ing soils and that mobili s e s the necessary societal engagement and financial resources, shared knowledge, sustainable practices and monitoring to reach common objectives. The strategy is closely linked and works in synergy with the other EU policies stemming from the European Green Deal and will underpin our ambition for global action on soil at international level . This will only be achieved through a combination of new voluntary and legally binding measures, presented here below , developed in full respect of subsidiarity and building on existing national soil policies. Figure 1: links between the EU Soil Strategy and other EU initiatives V ision and objectives : a chieving good soil health by 2050 The vision for soil By 2050, all EU soil ecosystems are in healthy condition and are thus more resilient , which will require very decisive changes in this decade. By then, p rotection , sustainable use and restoration of soil has become the norm . As a key solution, h ealthy soil s contribute t o address our big challenges of achiev ing climate neutrality and becoming resilient to climate change , developing a clean and circular (bio) economy, rever sing biodiversity loss, safeguard ing human health, halt ing desertification and rever sing land degradation. This new vision for soil is anchored in the EU b iodiversity strategy for 2030 and the Climate Adaptation Strategy . This Soil Strategy therefore builds on and will significantly contribute to several of the objectives of the Green Deal and objectives prior to that : Medium-term objectives by 2030 C ombat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world (Sustainable Development Goal 15.3) . S ignificant areas of degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems , including soils , are restored . A chieve a n EU net greenhouse gas removal of 310 million tonnes CO 2 equivalent per year for the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector . R each good ecological and chemical status in surface waters and good chemical and quantitative status in groundwater by 2027 . Reduce nutrient losses by at least 50%, the overall use and risk of chemical pesticides by 50% and the use of more hazardous pesticides by 50% by 2030 . S ignificant progress has been made in the remediat ion of contaminated sites . Long-term objectives by 2050 R each no net land take . S oil pollution should be reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to human health and natural ecosystems and respect the boundaries our planet can cope with, thus creating a toxic-free environment . A chiev e a climate-neutral Europe and , as the first step , aim to achiev e land-based climate neutrality in the EU by 2035 . Achieve for EU a climate-resilient society, fully adapted to the unavoidable impacts of climate change by 2050 . Aside from some existing EU legal provisions relevant to soil protection and actions undertaken under the 2006 Soil Thematic Strategy , the EU has so far not b e e n able to equip itself with a n adequate legal framework granting soil the same level of protection as water , marine environment and air. Yet, the need has become more pressing , and the knowledge about soils and the recognition of the ir value has advanced significantly over the past years . The pressures, expectations and claims on soil have intensified, while the climate and biodiversity crises are aggravating the situation . We need healthy soils now more than ever. What is a healthy soil? Soils are healthy when they are in good chemical , biological and physical condition , and thus able to continuously provide as many of the following ecosystem services as possible : p rovid e food and biomass production, including in agriculture and forestry; a bsorb, s tor e and filter water and transform nutrients and substances, thus protecting groundwater bodies ; p rovid e the basis for life and biodiversity, including habitats, species and genes; a ct as a carbon reservoir ; p rovid e a physical platform and cultural services for humans and their activities; a ct as a source of raw materials; c onstitut e an archive of geological, geomorphological and archaeological heritage. T he upcoming Commission proposal for a Nature Restoration Law aim s at restoring ecosystems to good condition by 2050. Yet to achieve that objective for soil ecosystems, given the lack of EU soil policy, a number of important policy gaps will remain and would need to be filled. This Communication addresses these gaps through several strands . The lack of dedicated EU legislation has been singled out by many as a major cause for the alarming state of our soils. Indeed, soil degradation has impacts that go beyond national borders (see accompanying staff working document), and lack of action in one Member State may lead to environmental degradation in another one. Equally, soil degradation, and an uneven and fragmented response by Member States to tackle it, has led to an uneven playing field for economic operators who have to go by different rules on soil protection while competing on the same market . To address transboundary impacts of soil degradation, secure equal market conditions, promote policy coherence at EU and national level and thus be able to achieve our goals on climate change, biodiversity, food security and water protection, the Commission will table a dedicated legislative proposal on soil health by 2023 which will enable the objectives of this strategy to be met and good soil health to be achieved across the EU by 2050. Such a legislative initiative will fulfil better regulation requirements, be based on a thorough impact assessment , including a subsidiarity check, and fully respect the competences of Member States in this matter. To determine the scope and content of this proportionate and risk - based framework, the Commission will engage in a broad and inclusive consultation with Member States, the European Parliament and all relevant stakeholders. While there is a big variety in the EU, soils also present a set of common characteristics . This makes it possible to defin e common ranges or thresholds beyond which soils cannot be considered healthy anymore. Such indicators for soil health and their range of values that should be achieved by 2050 to ensure good soil health will need to be developed and agreed , and they should be considered at EU level in the context of the Soil Health Law to ensure a level playing field and a high level of environmental and health protection . The Commission will mandate the new enlarged Expert Group on S oil Protection to develop them, building on the Soil Mission’s work . The membership of the current Commission Expert Group will be complemented in a balanced manner in order to provide additional advice . The Mission Board had advocated to aim for 75% of the soils of the European Union (EU) to be healthy or improving by 2030 . K nowing the health of a soil is very relevant for farmers, foresters, landowners, but also for banks, public authorities and many other stakeholders. There is an increasing interest for a refined soil quality index, e.g. in the financial and industrial sector. Some Member States have developed certificate s of soil health to be provided during land transactions to adequately inform the buyer. In parallel, both the public and p rivate sectors have been developing and investing in outcome - oriented approaches fostering effective practices for soil health, biodiversity, carbon storage capacity, etc . S oil as a key solution for our big challenges Soil for climate change mitigation and adaptation N et removals from the LULUCF sector are on a worrying trend . Between 2013 and 2018, the yearly net carbon removals were reduced by 20% . -35560 135890 Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 relies also on carbon removals through the restoration and better management of soils to absorb the emissions that will remain at the end of an ambitious decarbonisation pathway. Targeted and continued sustainable soil management practices can significantly help in achieving climate neutrality by eliminating the anthropogenic emissions from organic soils and by increasing the carbon stocked in mineral soils. Healthy s oil s will make the EU more resilien t and reduc e its v ulnerability to climate change. G iven the crucial role of soil in the water cycle , it is also an indispensable ally for climate adaptation . A high water retention capacity in soils reduces the effects of floods and decreases the negative impact of droughts. T he revision of the LULUCF Regulation that the Commission is propos ing within the Fit for 55 legislative package aims to stop and reverse this trend and simplify the accounting rules . In relation to climate change, the se two main types of soils play an important role : Organic soils ( including peatland s ) have a high carbon content of more than 20 % in dry weight and cover 8 % of the EU . Peatlands are terrestrial wetland s in which waterlogged conditions prevent plant material from fully decomposing. P eatland drainage across all land categories in Europe alone emits around 5% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions . Emissions from cultivated organic soils have still not decreased significantly due to the continuation of harmful cropping practices . Yet r estoring drained organic soils alone could significantly reduce CO 2 emiss ions from land , which comes with numerous co-benefits , for nature, biodiversity and water protection . Mineral soils feature a carbon content below 20% , although more generally it is below 5%. Every year m ineral soils under cropland are losing around 7.4 million tonnes of carbon , caused i.a. by unsustainable farming practices . Yet, that carbon pool is the ‘bank account’ of farmers and foresters in terms of natural capital. It is essential not to deplete it, as the carbon content is the basis for soil ’s biodiversity, health and fertility. Furthermore, c arbon sequestration in mineral soils , while depending on soil type and climatic conditions, is a cost-effective emission mitigation method with significant potential to sequester between 11 to 38 MtCO 2 eq annually in Europe if a range of management practices which have already been identified are applied o n a larger scale in arable land . Many of these practices are cost-effective . Foresters as well have significant opportunities for measures which simultaneously improve forest productivity, carbon sink function and healthy soil properties . . The banking and financial sector is increasingly interested in investing in those farmers who apply sustainable practices and increase soil carbon, as well as creating market-based incentives for carbon storing. There is evidence that carbon farming can contribute significantly to the EU’s efforts to tackle climate change but also brings other co-benefits such as increased biodiversity and t he preservation of ecosystems . Actions For soils to help meet the climate neutrality objective and contribute to climate adaptation, t he Commission will , in line with the Fit for 55 package : For organic soils : Based on the results of the impact assessment, c onsider p ropos ing legally binding objectives in the context of the Nature Restoration Law, to limit drainage of wetlands and organic soils and to restore managed and drained peatlands , in order to maintain and increase soil carbon stocks , minimise flooding and drought risks, and enhance biodiversity , taking into account the implications of these objectives for future carbon farming initiatives and agricultural and forestry production systems . Furthermore, the EU is committed to the protection of wetlands and peatlands in line with the provisions of the CAP strategic plan regulation. Contribute to the assessment of the state of peatlands in the context of the Global Peatlands Initiative hosted by FAO and UNEP . For mineral soils : The Commission will consider measures, possibly in the context of the Nature Restoration Law, to enhance biodiversity in agricultural land that would contribute to conserving and increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) , J oin the international initiative ‘ 4 p e r 1000 ’ to increas e the soil carbon in agricultural land . D evelop a long-term vision for sustainable carbon cycles (including capture, storage, and use of CO 2 ) in a climate-neutral EU economy. As part of this, t he Commission will deliver a c ommunication on restoring sustainable carbon cycles, in 2021 and present the EU carbon farming initiative and a legislative proposal on carbon removal certification in 2022 to promote a new green business model rewarding land managers, such as farmers and foresters, for climate–friendly practices . Soil and the circular economy 100965 34290 0 0 Soil is a major partner in a resource - efficient and circular economy , since it is arguably the planet’s biggest recycling machine: it recycles water, carbon and nutrients, and can break down and filter pollutants. In addition, soil deposits are used as raw material by many economic sectors, e.g. sand, gravel or clay for the construction industry. Yet , soil formation is so slow that prudent use is necessary. P rioriti s ing the circular use of land over greenfield development will limit the acute pressure from soil sealing and land take. A s afe, sustainable and circular use of excavated soil Most excavated soils are clean, fertile and healthy and should be reused in the same or an other appropriate location. If it is not possible to reuse excavated soils, e.g. due to unacceptable levels of pollution , such soil s should be prioriti s ed for recycling or some other form of recovery rather than landfilling , in line with the waste hierarchy. A sustainable use of raw material is necessary . In 2018, more than 530 million tonnes o f e xcavated soils were generated and reported as waste , with two thirds of such waste being recover ed in operations bringing that soil back into the economy . T o separate contaminated soil from clean soil, these streams have to be monitored more closely throughout the value chain, with traceability and quality control from the excavation site up to the receiving end. Actions The Commission will: I nvestigate the streams of excavated soils generated, treated and reused in the EU, and benchmark the market situation in Member States by 2023 . Th is should give a complete picture of the situation in the EU . As part of the development of the Soil Health Law, a ssess the need and potential for legally binding provisions for a ‘ p assport for excavated soil ’ , and p rovide guidance , based on Member States ’ experiences, to put in place such a system. The passport should reflect the quantity and quality of the excavated soil to ensure that it is transported , treated or reused safely elsewhere . Limiting land take and soil sealing with a circular use of land S oils provid e the foundation for buildings and infrastructure. However, when we seal soil to build on top , we are losing irreversibly all its key ecosystem services, exposing cities to higher flood peaks and more intense heat island effect s . Land and soil degradation are intertwined because ‘ land ’ indicates the surface, while ‘ soil ’ is the natural resource below it. L and and soils a re fragile and limited resource s subject to an ever growing hunger for space : u rban sprawl and soil sealing consume natur e and t ransform valuable ecosystems into concrete deserts. This often affects the most fertile soils and reduc es the potential for farmers and foresters to make a decent living . Having suffered from increased vulnerability to extreme weather events and other externalities , s ome Member States have set targets to reduce land take , however with uneven results. Land recycling, namely constructing in or rehabilitating already previously built - up areas , accounted for only 13 . 5% of urban developments in the EU (between 2006 and 2012 ) , so there is room for improvement . I n fact , some Member States have achieved rates higher than 50%, and up to 80%, show ing that sustained land recycling is possible . This spares natural areas for the benefit of biodiversity , forests and green spaces, land for food and biomass production , water and rainfall regulation . Hence , there is a need to apply a hierarchy in land planning. Figure 2 : Land take hierarchy Actions The EU should achieve no net land take by 2050 , which will contribute to the net removals target of 2030 . To do so, notably Member States should: Set by 202 3 their own ambitious national, regional and local targets to reduce net land take by 2030 in order to make a measurable contribution to the EU target of 2050 , and report on progress. Integrate the ‘ land take hierarchy’ into the ir Urban Greening Plans , and give priority to reus ing and recycling land and to quality urban soils at national, regional and local level, through appropriate regulatory initiatives and by phasing out financial incentive s that would go against this hierarchy, such as local fiscal benefits for conver ting agricultural or natural land into built environment. The Commission will also : Provide a definition of net land take in the Soil Health Law. As part of the impact assessment for the Soil Health Law, consider provisions for Member States to report on progress in achieving their land take targets As part of the impact assessment of the Soil Health Law, consider options for m onitor ing and report ing on progress towards the no net land take targets and the implementation of the land take hierarchy on the basis of the data reported by Member States . Provide guidance to public authorities and private companies on how to reduce soil sealing , including best practices for locally-driven initiatives for desealing artificial surfaces to let soil breath e , with a revision of the EU Soil Sealing Guidelines by 2024 . Foster an exchange of best practices , building on experiences from Member States or regions that have spatial planning systems which successfully address the challenge of land take with a view to develop ing a common methodology . Closing the nutrient and carbon circle L eaves, biomass and roots are broken down by soil organisms to simpler compounds that provide soil fertility and are suitable to be taken up again by plants . R ecycl ing organic matter such as compost, digestate, sewage sludge, processed manure and other agricultural residues has many advantages: the material after appropriate treatment serves as organic fertili s er, helps to replenish depleted soil carbon pools , and improv es water retention cap a city and soil structure , and thus enables clos ing of the nutrient and carbon cycle. However, this should always be carried out in a safe and sustainable way to prevent soil pollution . For that reason, the Commission will by 2022 revise the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and the list of surface water and groundwater pollutants, evaluate the Sewage Sludge Directive and adopt an Integrated Nutrient Management Action for a safe r use of nutrients on soil. In the impact assessment for the Soil Health Law, the Commission will assess measures that can contribute to achieving the objective of the reduction of nutrient losses by at least 50% (resulting in the reduction of use of fertilisers by at least 20%), including the option of making this target legally binding. Building on the obligation to collect organic waste separately , the Commission will seek to finance a new LIFE project that addresses as an ad hoc priority the use of high quality compost from biowaste on soil. The Commission will also continue funding research to address the environmentally sound recovery of organic fertilisers from bio-waste. Soil biodiversity for human , animal and plant health 19235 76256 0 0 Beneath our fields and our feet, an eclectic community of soil organisms toil day and night in a remarkable, coordinated effort that sustains life on Earth. One handful of healthy soil can contain up to a billion bacteria , more than one kilometre of fungi essential to plant and animal life . Yet we only know a little percentage of them . Moreover, soil hosts the first stages of life of many insects and pollinators . Soil biodiversity greatly contribut e s to human health. S ince the discovery of penicillin from a soil fungus, antibiotics produced by soil microbes have saved millions of lives . R ecently, certain soil bacteria have been instru m ental in a breakthrough in the development of much needed new antibiotics . S everal cholesterol - lowering drugs were developed from so i l fungi . It has been shown that children often playing in healthy forest soils have a stronger immune system . The ‘ One Health ’ principle clearly recogni s es that the health of the planet is closely linked with huma n and animal health . I f one group is affected, this influences the health of the rest : for instance , the more balanced nutrients and trace elements are in soil the more nutritious food is . M any s oil microorganisms are powerful allies against pollution , since they are capable of breaking complex contaminants, performing bioremediation for free. Equally , the healthier and cleaner the soil, the cleaner our water resources and the air we breathe . The s oil fungal network has been shown to be key in maintaining healthy forests by enabling trees to share nutrients, water or defence signals . Yet, soil biodiversity, just as the above - ground organisms , is thre atened by land - use change, over exploitation, pollution, climate change and invasive alien species such as the New Zealand flatworm , a predator that can lead to the decline of earthworms and have dramatic effects on soil productivity . There is a need to increase the knowledge on the impact of land use change , overexploitation and other stressors on soil biodiversity, also by using synergies between the FSDN (Farm Sustainability Data Network ) and LUCAS (Land Use and Coverage Area frame Survey) Soil . A chiev ing many of the targets of the EU b iodiversity strategy and f arm to f or k strategy will also benefit soil biodiversity . To protect a nd preserve soil organisms , we need to monitor and know more about them and cooperate at international level. Actions T he Commission will: Show its global leading role in building knowledge on soil biodiversity by p ublish ing by 2022 the first assessment of EU soil biodiversity and antimicrobial resistance genes in agricultural soils under different management regimes ( through the LUCAS S oil ) . Assess the risk of f urther alien f latworm species for their potential inclusion in the list of ‘invasive alien species of Union concern’, in line with the Invasive Alien Species Regulation . Strive for better coherence and stronger synergies between the Rio Conventions and strive for a post - 2020 g lobal b iodiversity f ramework that recognises the importance of soil biodiversity, strengthens the use of sustainable soil management practices to safeguard ecosystem services ( namely by promoting agro-ecology and other biodiversity-friendly practices ) and integrat es soil preservation and restoration in different targets and indicators . Actively contribute to the adoption by the 15 th Conference of the Parties to the C onvention on B iological D iversity of the plan of action 2020-2030 for the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Soil Biodiversity and the updated plan of action and to its subsequent implementation . S tep up efforts in mapping, assessing, protecting and restoring soil biodiversity and s upport the establishment of the Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory as proposed by the Food and Agricultural Organisation’s ( FAO ) Global Soil Partnership . Soil for healthy water resources 20467 77568 Soils , sediment s and water are intimately connected . S oils filter, absorb and buffer water , but can also get eroded and polluted . When soil is sealed, water is transported differently across surfaces. Methods that allow floodwaters to infiltrate soils in order to reduce disasters and pollution to water bodies are important for water management. The restoration of the sponge-like function of soils can boost the supply of clean, fresh water and reduce the risk of flooding and drought. Also, some h ighly fertile and carbon-rich soils are eroded and deposited downstream in river basins, dams and the sea, where often this sediment is dredged for nautical reasons. These sediments could be reused again , provided they are clean . Hence , coordinat ing water and soil policies is essential to achieving healthy soils and aquatic ecosystems through better soil and water management, including across borders, and reducing the impact of floods on people and the economy . There is a comprehensive body of EU water law in place , and the new EU strategy on a daptation to c limate c hange highlights the importance of healthy soils in minimising climate change related risks , such as floods and droughts . T he Commission will consider addressing the adequate integration and coordination of soil and water management , including in the impact assessment for a Soil Health Law . It will also facilitate exchange of practices among the Member States on the nexus between soil , water and sediment and publish a guidance on the sustainable management of sediment. Member States should better integrate soil and land use management in the ir river basin and flood risk management plans where possible by deploy ing nature - based solutions such as protective natural features, landscape features, river restoration, floodplains, etc. Preventing soil and land degradation and restoring healthy soils Making sustainable soil management the new normal 48911 56603 0 0 Soil s are generally healthy in unmanaged and natural ecosystems , and can be maintained healthy also in managed ecosystems through the application of sustainable soil management (SSM) . This is a set of pra ctices that is able to maintain the soil in , or restore it to , a healthy condition yielding multiple benefits , including for water and air . The se practices increase soil biodiversity, fertility and resilience which are needed for the vit ality of rural areas . There is no magic recipe for SSM that appli es to all soil types and climatic conditions or to all type s of land use. An increasing amount of k nowledge , including empirical knowledge , can be applied in agriculture and forestry . On the principles to be followed, t here are international reference documents such as the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management . However, there is no agreed common definition at EU level of SSM that is concrete and complete to be enforceable. These practices are also part of broader agro-ecological principles which are at the heart o f the f arm to f ork and b iodiversity s trateg ies and their targets to bring back at least 10% of agricultural area under high-diversity landscape features , to reduce nutrient losses and risk and use of chemical pesticides , to increase the proportion of agricultural land under organic farming and to increase soil organic matter. T here is evidence that soil carbon levels are likely to improve if organic farming is applied to agricultural production systems . Equally , agroforestry provides many benefits for soil health and climate adaptation. Other sustainable practices include cover cropping, crop rotation, the incorporation of crop residues , contour farming in slopes, avoid heavy machinery, the safe and compost, preventing conversion to arable land, conversion to grassland, continuous soil cover, reduced tillage and chemical inputs. Making sustainable soil management the new normal requires coordination and working together at local, regional , national , EU and global level to promote and implement such practices. Playing its role, the Commission will integrate the sustainable use of soils in the relevant EU policies. The role of advisory services both in agriculture and forestry is absolutely essential in assisting land users. For agricultural soils, local action must be closely nurtured and fostered with sufficient support from the f arm a dvisory s ervices and the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) of the CAP s trategic p lans. The new CAP has introduced an enhanced conditionality for environmental protection . Conditionality sets the baseline for more ambitious and sustainable agricultural commitments through environment- and climate-friendly farming practices under eco-schemes and rural development interventions. M aintaining healthy soils is particularly important , including in forests, as there is a strong interdependence between trees and the soil on which they grow, with mutual benefits and losses. In line with the new Forest Strategy , f orest management need s to avoid unsustainable practices that degrade the soil, for example through compaction, erosion or loss of soil organic carbon. To make it happen on the ground, and inspired by the French national soil sampling scheme BDAT , a ‘ TEST YOUR SOIL FOR FREE ’ initiative is proposed below . Knowing more about soil characteristics (pH, bulk density, soil organic matter, nutrient balance, etc . ) will help land users to adopt the best management practices. For that reason, building on years of experience surveying soils in the LUCAS survey, the Commission will assist Member States in setting up, with their own funds, a system to test soil for free for those land users that so wish , and who will receive the results of the tests. This will complement existing obligations in Member States for soil sampling. In order to maximise consistency in approaches to sampling techniques, and to ensure appropriate advice, the involvement of AKIS advisors is crucial. An estimate of the costs involved in such an initiative are included in the s taff w orking d ocument accompanying this strategy . Along the food value chain, many businesses are increasingly committing to agr o -food and forestry production practices that respect and increase the health of soil s . This helps rais e consumer awareness and addresses expectations by citizens and stakeholders of concrete results on soil health. Actions To promote sustainable soil management, t he Commission will: As part of the Soil Health law, and in the context of an impact assessment, assess requirements for the sustainable use of soil so that its capacity to deliver ecosystem services is not hampered , including the option of setting legal requirements . Prepare, in consultation with Member States and stakeholders, a set of ‘sustainable soil management’ practices, including regenerative farming in line with agro-ecological principles, adapted to the wide variability of soil ecosystems and types , and identify unsustainable soil management practices. Provide assistance to Member States to put in place through national funds the ‘ TEST YOU R SOIL FOR FREE ’ . Create with the Member States a network of excellence of practitioners, and an inclusive network of SSM ambassadors, including on regenerative and organic agriculture, connecting stakeholders beyond academia and agricultural actors. For this they will build on the work of Living Labs and Lighthouses of the Mission ’A Soil Deal for Europe’ (see Section 5.3 ) . I n the context of the CAP and in close cooperation with the Member States, continue the dissemination of successful sustainable soil and nutrient management solutions, including through the national rural networks of the r ural d evelopment p rogramme, farm advisory services and AKIS , and the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability ( EIP-AGRI ) . Promote SSM through voluntary commitments between actors in the food system under the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Businesses and Marketing practices . Value outstanding achievements and innovative initiatives on sustainable soil management by strengthening cooperation with the farming community such as t hough the E uropean L and O wners Soil Award . Continue to support the Global Soil Partnership in promoting sustainable soil management worldwide . P ropose b y 2023 a legislative framework for a n EU sustainable food system , as indicated in the Farm to Fork Strategy . Member States should: D uly include in their p rogrammes under EU c ohesion p olicy the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of soil, making full use of the EU guidance on integrating ecosystems and their services into decision-making . E nsure the CAP’s strong contribution to maintaining and enhancing soil health , in line with the CAP Strategic Plans analysis and needs assessment . This is to be achieved , among others , by adopt ing ambitious CAP s trategic p lans containing sufficient interventions under the green architecture , following the Commission’s CAP recommendations . The Commission will continue providing necessary guidance and assess the contribution and consistency of these p lans towards the Green Deal targets . Set up at the appropriate level the ‘ TEST YOUR SOIL FOR FREE ’ initiative . P reventing desertification 33655 83185 0 0 The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has recogni s ed the link between desertification, land degradation and drought, and the need to take urgent action by reversing land degradation. It set the target of land-degradation-neutrality (LDN), later taken up as one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 . All Parties of the C onvention have been encouraged to publicly report on land degradation every 4 years , and several EU Member States have submitted the 2018 report . Europe will be affected by a rise in drought conditions (as well as heavy precipitation events ) , thus enhancing the risk of future desertification processes and already affecting agricultural production in Europe . Already in 2008, extensive processes resulting in desertification were observed both in Mediterranean and Central and Eastern European countries, and a study from 2017 confirmed this trend. Whilst t hirteen Member States have declared themselves as ‘ affected p arty ’ under the UNCCD , the EU has not yet done so . While the risk of desertification in the EU relates to specific regions, the environmental, social and economic impact concern s the whole EU . N ot only does the loss of soil fertility put food security at risk , desertification also reduces both above- ground and below-ground biodiversity , further contributes to climate change through loss of soil carbon and feedback effects on the atmosphere , bring s poverty and health problems and lead s to migration within and from outside the EU. The European Court of Auditors concluded that the steps taken by the Commission and Member States to combat desertification lack coherence and that there is no shared vision in the EU on how land degradation neutrality will be achieved by 2030. Despite some progress, much more must be done to transition the agricultur al sector to adapt to the weather extremes , especially at farm level. A wide number of soil protection measures are available that help retain water and reduc e water needs , avoid salinisation and increas e resilience to droughts . Therefore, appl ying specific sustainable soil management practices that retain moisture , planting bushes and trees that generat e shade , and cultivat ing plants and crop species and variants adapted to dry climatic conditions can rever se the trend to wards desertification and restore soils already affected by it . Member States have already been encouraged to develop drought management plans and monitor drought events and their severity with specific indicators . Actions The Commission will: Establish a methodology and relevant indicators, starting with the UNCCD’s three indicators, to assess the extent of desertification and land degradation in the EU . Propose to Member States to declare the EU affected by desertification under UNCCD and c ontinue to encourage Member States to participate in the United Nation’s Land Degradation Neutrality ( LDN ) Target Setting Programme . S upported by the European Environment Agency ( EEA ) and the Joint Research Centre ( JRC ) , publish information every five years about the state of land degradation and desertification in the EU . Continue support to key initiatives such as the Great Green Wall initiative , Regreening Africa , an d aid on land/soil issues in development cooperation . Member States should: Adopt, i n line with the actions envisaged in the EU c limate a daptation strategy , appropriate long - term measures to prevent and mitigate degradation , notably by reducing water use and adapt ing crops to the local water availability, coupled with wider use of drought management plans and application of sustainable soil management. Preventing soil pollution Prevent ing diffuse and point-source soil pollution remains the most effective and cheapest way to ensure clean and healthy soils in the long term. As a priority, contamination should be prevented at the source . This can be done , for example, by having clean industry, sustainable product design, improved recycling , waste management and nutrient recovery , more efficient fertiliser application or reduced pesticide use and risk , as well as implementing the Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment and reducing the use of antimicrobial s . This should be complemented by reduced emissions and a safer production and use of chemicals. The EU has legislation to prevent the release of emissions of hazardous substances into the environment , including soil. To prevent soil contamination, it is important that the risks of chemicals for soil quality and biodiversity are properly considered in risk assessments. Yet, the necessary data on the hazard and environmental fate of and exposure to such chemicals and the resulting risk they pose for soil quality and organisms are often lacking. Actions Building on the Farm to Fork, Biodiversity and Chemical s Strateg ies and the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Commission will: Revise the Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides and evaluate the Sewage Sludge Directive by 2022. I mprove and harmonise the consideration of soil quality and soil biodiversity in EU risk assessments for chemicals, food and feed additives, pesticides, fertilisers, etc. It will do this under the ‘one substance one assessment’ initiative and in collaboration with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the EEA, JRC and the Member States. Restrict intentionally used micro-plastics under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals ( REACH ) Regulation and develop measures on the unintentional release of microplastics by 2022 . Following the initiation of the restriction process by some Member States, t he Commission will prepare a restriction under REACH on all non-essential uses of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ( PFAS ) , preventing their emission to the environment including soil, a nd also develop a policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics by 2022. By July 2024, adopt biodegradability criteria for certain polymers, such as coating agents and agricultural mulch films under the EU Fertilising Products Regulation. The contaminant limits for EU fertilising products will be reviewed by July 2026 as part of the general review of that regulation . Restoring degraded soils and remediating contaminat ed s ites 83185 15240 0 0 A degraded soil has lost partially or completely its capacity to provide its multiple functions and services. In some cases, resorting to sustainable soil management allows soil to re-establish a healthy condition, leading to full recovery after some years (e.g. in case of loss of carbon and biodiversity or compaction and erosion of the top fertile layer). In other cases, active restoration measures are needed for sometimes only partial recovery (e.g. for sealed, desertified, salinised or acidified soils). I n the EU B iodiversity Strategy for 2030 , the Commission announced a proposal for legally binding EU nature restoration targets in 2021 to restore degraded ecosystems, in particular those with the most potential to capture and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters. Sometimes, alas, degradation is irreversible . C ontaminated sites require remediation with often complex and costly techniques , although in certain cases low-cost, bioremediation techniques have been shown to be effective . Nonetheless , in some case s soils have b een degraded to such an extent t hat they cannot be fully restored to a healthy condition at a reasonable cost. In such cases, appropriate measures are needed to confine or manage the risk of the contaminated site in order to prevent any further harm to the environment and human health. By 2050, soil pollution should be reduced to levels which are no longer expected to pose risks and which respect the boundaries our planet can cope with, thus creating a toxic-free environment . Recently, in the case of mercury-contaminated soil , one Member State with a well-maintained register (Belgium) identified more than 1 600 contaminated sites while several other Member States reported none . S ome Member States have very comprehensive legislation in place at national or regional level, while others do not . This latter group has no specific soil contamination and remediation laws, appl ies more of an ad hoc approach and do es not have a register for (potentially) contaminated sites. Reporting on progress in manag ing soil contamination is currently voluntary, irregular and based on a changing methodology, different national definitions, screening values and risk assessment methodologies. In light of this lack of level playing field , the Commission will therefore explore the need for legal provisions to make such reporting mandatory and uniform across the EU in the context of the Soil Health Law . When efforts to prevent and control the source of pollution have failed and contaminants reach the soil and pose risks for the environment and human health, the soil must be remediated and the polluter should pay for it. The Environmental Liability Directive obliges certain operators to remediate contaminated land that poses risks for human health if pollution occurred as the consequence of activities carried out after 30 April 2007 or, if carried out before, not yet finished at that date . The Industrial Emissions Directive requests operators of certain installations to establish the state of soil and groundwater contamination at the start of operations, apply for a permit that includes conditions to prevent soil pollution through application of the best available techniques and to take necessary action upon definitive cessation to return the site to its initial status. T he Commission is also working on a revision of the Environmental Crime Directive, which will propose an ambitious instrument to tackle environmental crime and introduce effective tools for law enforcement authorities across the Union to enforce its environmental policy (including soil pollution offences) , with the support of Eurojust in cross-border cases. However, for historical or orphan contaminated sites, a common approach is lacking in the EU, which is a very important legal gap. It is crucial that all Member States identify and maintain a register for contaminated sites, assess the risks and finally remediate these sites in case of unacceptable risks. This is required to honour the several commitments made at global level on the management of contaminated sites . All Member States face the same challenges and independently have to develop national methodologies for assess ing the risks of soil contamination. In 2018, there were more than 21 000 registered chemicals on the EU market . The PFAS group alone consists of more than 4 700 chemicals highly persistent in the soil and in humans . Only a very small fraction of all chemicals is screened in the standard soil analysis, and even fewer substances are regulated under national legislation with contaminant thresholds. This means that most chemicals remain undetected in the soil. The fate, behaviour and (eco)toxicological effects of contaminants of emerging concern are not yet well understood, especially for lower orders of soil biota. There is a need to assess the risks of these substances already present in soils, sediments and water bodies, and take appropriate remedial action if required. This is a shared challenge that requires increased knowledge and data exchange and collaboration between Member States. Actions A s part of the impact assessment for a Soil Health Law , the Commission will : - consider options for propos ing legally binding provisions to : i) identify contaminated sites, ii) set up an inventory and register of those sites and iii) remediate the sites that pose a significant risk to human health and the environment by 2050. - assess the feasibility of the introduction of a soil health certificate for land transaction to provide land buyers with information on the key characteristics and health of the soils in the site they intend to purchase . In addition to the se legal provisions , the Commission will : In cooperation with Member States and stakeholders, facilitate a dialogue and knowledge exchange on the risk assessment methodologies for soil contamination and identify best practices. By 202 4 , develop an EU priority list for contaminants of major and/or emerging concern that pose significant risks for European soil quality, and for which vigilance and priority action at European and national level is needed. By 2022, r e vise the Industrial Emissions Directive and by 2023 evaluate the Environmental Liability Directive , including with regard to the definition of land damage and the role of financial security . Member States should : Establish a system of soil health certificates for land transactions , with support by the EU research programme and mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ , if this is not included in the Soil Health Law . We need to know more about soils It is essential to make more and better knowledge and data about soils available and to use this knowledge and data . Access to soil research data will be made easier through the creation of a Green Deal dataspace and the implementation of the Horizon Europe Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ . Building on the INSPIRE Directive , o pen standards for data should improve the interoperability of national, EU and global soil monitoring frameworks. Soil and the digital agenda 27305 66040 0 0 Digital technologies present new and untapped opportunities for monitoring the pressures and condition of soils and land. Our knowledge on soil in the last decade has gained enormously from, E arth observation, in particular RADAR systems and hyperspectral sensors, remote sensing, new techniques such as DNA analysis for soil organisms. The target of the Farm to Fork Strategy on availability of fast broadband internet, also in rural areas, will help data transfer and smart use as well as real-time monitoring with sensors . Examples o f digital solutions for addressing soil pollution , including FaST , have been highlighted in the Z ero P ollution A ction P lan . Copernicus , the European Union's Earth observation programme and its l and m onitoring s ervice will continue to provide data on bio-geophysical variables, land cover and land use in the EU and beyond. These activities will radically contribute to innovative soil research and use. Through these activities, it will also be possible to increasingly use machine learning techniques and use more artificial intelligence solutions from sensing systems (such as those provided by precision agriculture) and field-based measuring systems (e.g. hand-held spectrometers, portable DNA extraction, on-site chemical analysis). Actions The Commission will: Enhance the use of digital tools and Copernicus and rely on the JRC to further develop the European Soil Observatory (EUSO) and the EEA to develop the Land Information System for Europe (LISE) , support ed by geospatial analytical products . Encourage and support Member States to set-up farm sustainability tools for nutrients (FaST) , a s part of the farm advisory services under the new CAP . Such tools will provide to farmers recommendations about the use of fertilisers , compliant with existing legislation and based on available data and knowledge . Improve the modelling capacity of soil-related processes under the Commission’s Destination Earth in collaboration with the Horizon Europe Mission ’A Soil Deal for Europe’ . Soil data and monitoring 31750 77848 0 0 Several soil monitoring systems are present at M ember S tate level . H owever, overall , they are fragmented, incomplete and in general not harmoni s ed across the EU . D ata are often not yet publicly shared in accordance with the mechanism of the INSPIRE Directive . There is currently no systematic comprehensive monitoring of policy - relevant issues in many countries due to a lack of capacity or resources. The Commission’s LUCAS s oil initiative is the only monitoring system that provides harmoni s ed and systematic on-the-field measurements for all M ember S tates . But it needs to be better integrated with activities in Member States and other data flows. Also t he EEA provides indicators such as on soil sealing and land take , yet our knowledge on soil w ill greatly profit from better data resolution, more frequen t measurements and harmoni s ation of approach es between Member States . An integrated soil indicator system is needed to serve as an umbrella for further monitoring and reporting . T he EUSO was launched recently to help set up an EU -wide soil monitoring system pursuant to the INSPIRE Directive and in connect ion with national reporting under the NEC Directive and LULUCF Regulation . Actions To fill the monitoring gap for soil, t he Commission will: Following an impact assessment, and a s part of the Soil Health Law , consider provisions on monitoring soil and soil biodiversity and reporting on the condition of soil, building on existing national and EU schemes , including LUCAS soil module ; consider , as part of the impact assessment, providing a legal basis for the LUCAS soil survey to legally anchor the objectives, conditions, funding, access to land, use of data and privacy issues. Provide through the LUCAS soil survey s EU-wide harmoni s ed monitoring of the evolution in soil organic carbon content and carbon stocks , complementing Member States ’ reporting under the LULUCF Regulation . W ork towards integrating a pollution module in the future LUCAS in 2022 soil survey to better understand and map the issue of diffuse soil contamination in the EU, and produce a c lean s oil o utlook as part of the integrated z ero p ollution m onitoring and o utlook f ramework. In implement ing the EU SO : Identify , with the contribution of the European j oint p rogramme on a gricultural s oil m anagement , soil monitoring gaps, i n dialogue with Member States and other key stakeholders De velop a soil dashboard with a set of reliable soil indicators integrating trends and foresight. D evelop an EU inventory of soil biota in order to monitor and better understand soil biodiversity . Soil research and innovation The Horizon Europe framework programme for research and innovation will facilitate knowledge creation, collaboration and thereby accelerate the transition to healthy soils. In this context, there are relevant instruments available through Cluster 6, Food2030 priorities, and the Horizon Europe Partnerships (Food System, Biodiversity, Agroecology, Agriculture of Data, etc.). In addition 43092 78869 0 0 , t he Horizon Europe Mission ’A Soil Deal for Europe’ provides a comprehensive framework for research and innovation and contributes to creating a harmonised EU framework for soil monitoring and reporting and effective research-policy and research-practice interfaces to achiev e healthy soils . In addition to addressing gaps in our knowledge, the mission will test, demonstrate and deploy solutions for soil health for their widespread uptake through a network of ‘ living labs ’ (experiments and innovation in a laboratory on the ground) and ‘ lighthouses ’ (places showcasing good practices) . Actions Through Horizon Europe and in particular the Mission ’A Soil Deal for Europe’ , t he Commission will: I mplement ambitious roadmaps for research and innovation to expand the knowledge base for soil stewardship and widen the access to and use of results from research activities. Continue providing substantial funding to i) research solutions to increase s oil biodiversity ; ii) address s oil degradation; iii) pilot innovative technologies for decontamination . Promote the development and use of d igital and remote sensors, apps and handheld samplers to assess soil quality. Enabling the transition to healthy soils Private finance and EU funding 33655 50800 0 0 Entire value and supply chains and economic sectors depend on healthy soils. Yet, many of the actors in these value chains are un aware of the vulnerability of their assets to soil degradation. I nvestors and banks are becoming increasingly aware of the financial risks of soil degradation and the returns of prevention and restoration. Some banks offer farmers a lower interest rate when their soil is healthy, because the land value is higher and the loans can be resold to sustainable pension funds and asset managers that want to have a positive impact on people and the planet . F armers are more and more financially rewarded for the carbon that their soils capture and the application of sustainable soil management practices through carbon payment schemes . Companies are increasingly offsetting carbon emissions by buying carbon credits from farmers , investing in soil health by applying sustainable farming practices or focusing on the niche of sustainable land redevelopment and remediation . As for funding , the current EU budget provides sources of funding to support the sustainable use and restoration of degraded soils , such as the CAP, the LIFE programme, Horizon Europe, Cohesion Policy . I n the Recovery and Resilience Facility, there is as well a number of national Recovery and Resilience P lans that have included measures on soil protection. Particularly relevant in this context is the Commission’s ‘do no significant harm’ te chnical guidance to help Member States prepar e the ir R ecovery and R esilience P lans . The Commission will set up a dialogue with the public, private and financial sector to see how financing the prevention of soil degradation and the restoration of soil health can be improved. Actions The Commission will: Publish a guide in 2022 with an overview of EU funding opportunities available for the protection, sustainable management and restoration of soils, once all priorities and focus areas for 2021-2027 have been clearly defined. Promote investments in projects that sustainably manage and do no t significant ly harm soils under the EU T axonomy Regulation and its delegated acts. Soil literacy and societal engagement -4445 84455 0 0 Soil is probably the most undervalued element of nature . I ncreasingly urbanised populations often see it just as ‘dirt’ and as an unlimited natural resource , often unaware of its relevance in their daily lives and of its key role in the sustainable and circular bioeconomy . This reflects a lack of emphasis in education of the importance of soil and highlights the need to increase public awareness and societal engagement . Soil literacy combines broad awareness with specialised understanding across a range of disciplines through communication and educational activities that bring soil closer to people’s lives. To achieve this, all stakeholders must have access to both general education on soil and targeted training for specialist needs. Formal soil education should be complemented with active hands on learning and messaging on the sharing of best practices and shared knowledge. The recently adopted i mplementation p lan of the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ outlines the significant contribut ion of the mission to increas e soil literacy through wide engagement with citizens and actors involved along the entire food production chain, including farmers, food companies and retailers . Actions The Commission, together with Member States and stakeholders , will: Launch a soil literacy engagement and awareness initiative , building on the successful example of the “ocean literacy ” . Facilitate and e ncourage the sharing of best practices in communication and engagement on soil, building an EUSO portal and setting up outreach networks aiming at healthy soils . Integrate the issue of soil degradation under the European common reference framework of sustainability competences , to develop the concept of soil literacy with European citizens . Run a comprehensive portfolio of actions for communication, education, and citizen engagement to promote soil health at various levels and bring soils closer to citizen’s values, building on the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ and the EU Soil Observatory. Conclusions 64135 46990 0 0 Bestowing on soil the same level of protection as air and water and marine environment and grant ing the same attention to soil inhabitants as we do for above - ground biodiversity is a major challenge. To succeed, the vision and the commitments set out in this strategy pave the way for ambitious and necessary changes. Successful implementation of th is s oil s trategy requires inclusive and broad governance arrangements at national, EU and global level. We need all stakeholders around the table to d iscuss and collaborate . Therefore, a new governance model based on a ‘ network of network s ’ and inspired by the Coalition4Oceans will be created : the EU Coalition4HealthySoils (C4HS). At its core, the EU Soil E xpert G roup will be enlarged to include a balanced representation of stakeholders. Policy action will continue to be based on data and knowledge from the EU Soil Observatory and the EIONET National Reference Centre on Soil and the Mission ’A Soil Deal for Europe’ . C4HS will interact with other relevant EU expert groups , the Global Soil Partnership and its European Soil Partnership . The EU has always strongly supported the Global Soil Partnership of the FAO and its regional branches and will continue to do so to improve governance on sustainable soil management , including at global level. Our soils need to be healed. It is a matter of our own survival. This Strategy sets therefore ambitious and necessary objectives, on which we need to urgently deliver. It is backed by scientific evidence and puts forward a set of actions which will help us to get there. By launching this Strategy, the Commission is going to engage in discussion s with the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of Regions, as well as with civil society, economic operators and other stakeholders to make this Strategy and its actions a common success. Resolutsiooni liik: Riigikantselei resolutsioon Viide: Keskkonnaministeerium / / ; Riigikantselei / / 2-5/21-02741 Resolutsiooni teema: ELi mullastrateegia 2030. aastaks Adressaat: Keskkonnaministeerium Ülesanne: Tulenevalt Riigikogu kodu- ja töökorra seaduse § 152` lg 1 p 2 ning Vabariigi Valitsuse reglemendi § 3 lg 4 palun valmistada ette Vabariigi Valitsuse seisukoha ja otsuse eelnõu järgneva algatuse kohta, kaasates seejuures olulisi huvigruppe ja osapooli: KOMISJONI TEATIS EUROOPA PARLAMENDILE, NÕUKOGULE, EUROOPA MAJANDUS- JA SOTSIAALKOMITEELE NING REGIOONIDE KOMITEELE ELi mullastrateegia 2030. aastaks Heas seisundis muld inimeste, toidu, looduse ja kliima hüvanguks, COM(2021) 699. EISi toimiku nr: 21-1244. Tähtaeg: 31.01.2022 Adressaat: Maaeluministeerium, Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium, Rahandusministeerium, Sotsiaalministeerium Ülesanne: Palun esitada oma sisend Keskkonnaministeeriumile seisukohtade kujundamiseks antud eelnõu kohta (eelnõude infosüsteemi (EIS) kaudu). Tähtaeg: 07.01.2022 Lisainfo: Eelnõu on kavas arutada valitsuse 10.02.2022 istungil ja Vabariigi Valitsuse reglemendi § 6 lg 6 kohaselt sellele eelneval nädalal (02.02.2022) EL koordinatsioonikogus. Esialgsed materjalid EL koordinatsioonikoguks palume esitada hiljemalt 31.01.2022. Kinnitaja: Katrin Juhandi, Euroopa Liidu asjade direktori asetäitja Kinnitamise kuupäev: 08.12.2021 Resolutsiooni koostaja: Ann Saks [email protected], 693 5201  Andmed algatuse kohta Nimetus KOMISJONI TEATIS EUROOPA PARLAMENDILE, NÕUKOGULE, EUROOPA MAJANDUS- JA SOTSIAALKOMITEELE NING REGIOONIDE KOMITEELE ELi mullastrateegia 2030. aastaks Heas seisundis muld inimeste, toidu, looduse ja kliima hüvanguks COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Soil Strategy for 2030 Reaping the benefits of healthy soils for people , food , nature and climate Eelnõu nr COM(202 1 ) 699 Esitamise kuupäev: 17 .1 1 .202 1 Menetluskord EL-is: n/a SEISUKOHA Valitsusse toomise alus 1. FORMCHECKBOX RK KT S § 152 1 lg 1 p1 - algatuse/teatise reguleerimisala nõuab seaduse või Riigikogu otsuse vastuvõtmist, muutmist või kehtetuks tunnistamist 2. FORMCHECKBOX RK KT S § 152 1 lg 1 p2 - algatuse/ vastuvõtmisega või teatises toodud meetmete rakendamisega kaasneb oluline majanduslik , sotsiaalne või muu mõju 3. FORMCHECKBOX RK KT S § 152 1 lg 2 - Euroopa Liidu asjade komisjoni või väliskomisjoni nõue 4. FORMCHECKBOX VVS § 20 1 lg 1 - algatuse/teatise reguleerimisala nõuab VV pädevusse kuuluva otsuse vastuvõtmist (määruse vastuvõtmine, muutmine, tühistamine) 5. FORMCHECKBOX VVS § 20 1 lg 2 - seisukoha võtmist algatuse/teatise osas peab oluliseks peaminister või minister (on poliitiliselt oluline või tundlik (Eestis või EL-is)) Valitsusele esitamine Kuupäev 1 0 .0 2 .22 VV istungile, KOKi 0 2 . 0 2 .22 EL menetluse ajakava Siseriiklik menetlus Vastutav min KEM Kaasatud ministeeriumid MEM, SOM, RAM , MKM Sotsiaalpartnerid, huvigrupid Sisendi andmise tähtaeg 07 . 01 .202 2 EELNÕU ÜLEVAADE kokkuv õte eelõu sisust ja eesmärkides Muld ja selles elavad arvukad organismid annavad meile toitu, biomassi ja kiude, reguleerivad vee-, süsiniku- ja toitainete ringet ning teevad elu maapinnal võimalikuks. Selle mõne sentimeetri sügavuse imelise kihi tekkimiseks kulub tuhandeid aastaid. Mullas leidub rohkem kui 25 % kogu planeedi elurikkusest ning muld on inimkonda toitvate ja maapinnast kõrgemal asuvate toiduahelate alus. See habras kiht peab 2050. aastaks toitma ära maailma ligikaudu 10 miljardit elanikku ja filtreerima neile sobivat joogivett Investeerimine mulla degradeerumise ennetamisse ja mulla taastamisse on majanduslikult mõistlik. Heas seisundis muld kui ELi suurim maismaaökosüsteem on paljude majandussektorite alus, samal ajal kui mulla degradeerumine läheb ELile maksma mitukümmend miljardit eurot aastas 11 . Majandamistavad, millega säilitatakse ja parandatakse mulla head seisundit ja elurikkust, võimaldavad suurendada kulutõhusust ja vähendada saagikuse säilimiseks vajalikke sisendeid (nt pestitsiidid, väetised). Mulla degradeerumise praeguste suundumuste peatamine ja ümberpööramine annaks kogu maailmas kuni 1,2 triljonit eurot majanduslikku kasu aastas . Mulla degradeerumise kulud, mis tulenevad tegevusetusest ja on Euroopas kuus korda suuremad kui tegevusega kaasnevad kulud, lähevad majanduslikest kuludest kaugemale; tegevusetus mitte ainult ei põhjusta viljakuse vähenemist, mis seaks ohtu toiduga kindlustatuse kogu maailmas, vaid mõjutab ka toodete kvaliteeti ja toiteväärtust. Selleks et heas seisundis mullast oleks kasu inimestele, toidu kasvatamisel ning loodusele ja kliimale, vajab EL uuendatud mullastrateegiat, milles oleks sätestatud raamistik ja konkreetsed meetmed mulla kaitseks, taastamiseks ja säästvaks kasutamiseks ning tagatud ühiskonna vajalik osalemine ning rahalised vahendid, teadmiste jagamine, säästvad tavad ja seire, et saavutada ühised eesmärgid. Strateegia on tihedalt seotud teiste Euroopa rohelisest kokkuleppest tulenevate ELi poliitikavaldkondadega ja toimib nendega koostoimes, samuti toetatakse sellega meie püüdlusi võtta mullakaitse valdkonnas üleilmseid meetmeid rahvusvahelisel tasandil. Kõike seda on võimalik saavutada ainult siis, kui kombineerida allpool esitatud uusi vabatahtlikke ja õiguslikult siduvaid meetmeid, mis on välja töötatud täielikus kooskõlas subsidiaarsuse põhimõttega ja põhinevad olemasoleval riiklikul mullakaitsepoliitikal. Mullavisioon 2050. aastaks on kõik ELi mullaökosüsteemid heas seisundis ja seega vastupidavad; selle saavutamine nõuab väga otsustavaid muutusi veel praegusel aastakümnel. 2050. aasta on mulla kaitse, säästev kasutamine ja taastamine muutunud normiks. Heas seisundis muld on peamine lahendus meie suurtele probleemidele, nt kliimaneutraalsus ja kliimamuutustele vastupanuvõime saavutamine, puhta ja ringluspõhise (bio)majanduse arendamine, elurikkuse vähenemise tagasipööramine, inimeste tervise kaitsmine, kõrbestumise peatamine ja mulla degradeerumise tagasipööramine. Mullastrateegia eesmärgid : Võidelda kõrbestumisega , taastada degradeerunud maa ja muld, sealhulgas kõrbestumise , põua ja üleujutuste tagajärjel rikutud maa, ning püüda saavutada maa degradeerumise neutraalsus . Taastada olulised kahjustatud ja süsinikurikkad ökosüsteemid, sealhulgas mullastik . Saavutada maakasutuse, maakasutuse muutuse ja metsanduse (LULUCF) sektoris ELi kasvuhoonegaaside netosidumine 310 miljonit CO2-ekvivalenttonni aastas . Saavutada 2027. aastaks pinnavee hea ökoloogiline ja keemiline seisund ning põhjavee hea keemiline ja kvantitatiivne seisund . Vähendada 2030. aastaks toitainete kadu vähemalt 50 % võrra, keemiliste pestitsiidide üldist kasutamist ja ohtu 50 % võrra ning ohtlikumate pestitsiidide kasutamist 50 % võrra . Teha märkimisväärseid edusamme saastatud alade tervendamisel . Saavutada maa netohõive puudumine . Vähendada pinnasereostust tasemeni, mida ei peeta enam tervisele ja looduslikele ökosüsteemidele kahjulikuks ning mille puhul arvestatakse meie planeedi taluvuspiire, luues seega mürgivaba keskkonna . Saavutada kliimaneutraalne Euroopa ja esimese sammuna saavutada ELis 2035. aastaks maasektori kliimaneutraalsus . Muuta EL 2050. aastaks kliimamuutuste suhtes vastupidavaks ühiskonnaks, mis on kliimamuutuste vältimatu mõjuga täielikult kohanenud Võimalikud sots-maj. mõjud võimalikud õiguslikud muudatused Mõju eelarvele Kommentaarid SEISUKOHAD Eesti seisukoht Teiste riikide seisukohad Kommentaarid Andmed algatuse kohta Nimetus KOMISJONI TEATIS EUROOPA PARLAMENDILE, NÕUKOGULE, EUROOPA MAJANDUS- JA SOTSIAALKOMITEELE NING REGIOONIDE KOMITEELE ELi mullastrateegia 2030. aastaks Heas seisundis muld inimeste, toidu, looduse ja kliima hüvanguks COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Soil Strategy for 2030 Reaping the benefits of healthy soils for people, food, nature and climate Eelnõu nr COM(202 1 ) 699 Esitamise kuupäev: 17 .1 1 .202 1 Menetluskord EL-is: n/a SEISUKOHA Valitsusse toomise alus 1. FORMCHECKBOX RK KT S § 152 1 lg 1 p1 - algatuse/teatise reguleerimisala nõuab seaduse või Riigikogu otsuse vastuvõtmist, muutmist või kehtetuks tunnistamist 2. FORMCHECKBOX RK KT S § 152 1 lg 1 p2 - algatuse/ vastuvõtmisega või teatises toodud meetmete rakendamisega kaasneb oluline majanduslik , sotsiaalne või muu mõju 3. FORMCHECKBOX RK KT S § 152 1 lg 2 - Euroopa Liidu asjade komisjoni või väliskomisjoni nõue 4. FORMCHECKBOX VVS § 20 1 lg 1 - algatuse/teatise reguleerimisala nõuab VV pädevusse kuuluva otsuse vastuvõtmist (määruse vastuvõtmine, muutmine, tühistamine) 5. FORMCHECKBOX VVS § 20 1 lg 2 - seisukoha võtmist algatuse/teatise osas peab oluliseks peaminister või minister (on poliitiliselt oluline või tundlik (Eestis või EL-is)) Valitsusele esitamine Kuupäev 1 0 .0 2 .22 VV istungile, KOKi 0 2 . 0 2 .22 EL menetluse ajakava Siseriiklik menetlus Vastutav min KEM Kaasatud ministeeriumid MEM, SOM, RAM , MKM Sotsiaalpartnerid, huvigrupid Sisendi andmise tähtaeg 07 . 01 .202 2 EELNÕU ÜLEVAADE kokkuv õte eelõu sisust ja eesmärkides Muld ja selles elavad arvukad organismid annavad meile toitu, biomassi ja kiude, reguleerivad vee-, süsiniku- ja toitainete ringet ning teevad elu maapinnal võimalikuks. Selle mõne sentimeetri sügavuse imelise kihi tekkimiseks kulub tuhandeid aastaid. Mullas leidub rohkem kui 25 % kogu planeedi elurikkusest ning muld on inimkonda toitvate ja maapinnast kõrgemal asuvate toiduahelate alus. See habras kiht peab 2050. aastaks toitma ära maailma ligikaudu 10 miljardit elanikku ja filtreerima neile sobivat joogivett Investeerimine mulla degradeerumise ennetamisse ja mulla taastamisse on majanduslikult mõistlik. Heas seisundis muld kui ELi suurim maismaaökosüsteem on paljude majandussektorite alus, samal ajal kui mulla degradeerumine läheb ELile maksma mitukümmend miljardit eurot aastas 11 . Majandamistavad, millega säilitatakse ja parandatakse mulla head seisundit ja elurikkust, võimaldavad suurendada kulutõhusust ja vähendada saagikuse säilimiseks vajalikke sisendeid (nt pestitsiidid, väetised). Mulla degradeerumise praeguste suundumuste peatamine ja ümberpööramine annaks kogu maailmas kuni 1,2 triljonit eurot majanduslikku kasu aastas . Mulla degradeerumise kulud, mis tulenevad tegevusetusest ja on Euroopas kuus korda suuremad kui tegevusega kaasnevad kulud, lähevad majanduslikest kuludest kaugemale; tegevusetus mitte ainult ei põhjusta viljakuse vähenemist, mis seaks ohtu toiduga kindlustatuse kogu maailmas, vaid mõjutab ka toodete kvaliteeti ja toiteväärtust. Selleks et heas seisundis mullast oleks kasu inimestele, toidu kasvatamisel ning loodusele ja kliimale, vajab EL uuendatud mullastrateegiat, milles oleks sätestatud raamistik ja konkreetsed meetmed mulla kaitseks, taastamiseks ja säästvaks kasutamiseks ning tagatud ühiskonna vajalik osalemine ning rahalised vahendid, teadmiste jagamine, säästvad tavad ja seire, et saavutada ühised eesmärgid. Strateegia on tihedalt seotud teiste Euroopa rohelisest kokkuleppest tulenevate ELi poliitikavaldkondadega ja toimib nendega koostoimes, samuti toetatakse sellega meie püüdlusi võtta mullakaitse valdkonnas üleilmseid meetmeid rahvusvahelisel tasandil. Kõike seda on võimalik saavutada ainult siis, kui kombineerida allpool esitatud uusi vabatahtlikke ja õiguslikult siduvaid meetmeid, mis on välja töötatud täielikus kooskõlas subsidiaarsuse põhimõttega ja põhinevad olemasoleval riiklikul mullakaitsepoliitikal. Mullavisioon 2050. aastaks on kõik ELi mullaökosüsteemid heas seisundis ja seega vastupidavad; selle saavutamine nõuab väga otsustavaid muutusi veel praegusel aastakümnel. 2050. aasta on mulla kaitse, säästev kasutamine ja taastamine muutunud normiks. Heas seisundis muld on peamine lahendus meie suurtele probleemidele, nt kliimaneutraalsus ja kliimamuutustele vastupanuvõime saavutamine, puhta ja ringluspõhise (bio)majanduse arendamine, elurikkuse vähenemise tagasipööramine, inimeste tervise kaitsmine, kõrbestumise peatamine ja mulla degradeerumise tagasipööramine. Mullastrateegia eesmärgid: Võidelda kõrbestumisega, taastada degradeerunud maa ja muld, sealhulgas kõrbestumise, põua ja üleujutuste tagajärjel rikutud maa, ning püüda saavutada maa degradeerumise neutraalsus . Taastada olulised kahjustatud ja süsinikurikkad ökosüsteemid, sealhulgas mullastik . Saavutada maakasutuse, maakasutuse muutuse ja metsanduse (LULUCF) sektoris ELi kasvuhoonegaaside netosidumine 310 miljonit CO2-ekvivalenttonni aastas . Saavutada 2027. aastaks pinnavee hea ökoloogiline ja keemiline seisund ning põhjavee hea keemiline ja kvantitatiivne seisund . Vähendada 2030. aastaks toitainete kadu vähemalt 50 % võrra, keemiliste pestitsiidide üldist kasutamist ja ohtu 50 % võrra ning ohtlikumate pestitsiidide kasutamist 50 % võrra . Teha märkimisväärseid edusamme saastatud alade tervendamisel . Saavutada maa netohõive puudumine . Vähendada pinnasereostust tasemeni, mida ei peeta enam tervisele ja looduslikele ökosüsteemidele kahjulikuks ning mille puhul arvestatakse meie planeedi taluvuspiire, luues seega mürgivaba keskkonna . Saavutada kliimaneutraalne Euroopa ja esimese sammuna saavutada ELis 2035. aastaks maasektori kliimaneutraalsus . Muuta EL 2050. aastaks kliimamuutuste suhtes vastupidavaks ühiskonnaks, mis on kliimamuutuste vältimatu mõjuga täielikult kohanenud Võimalikud sots-maj. mõjud võimalikud õiguslikud muudatused Mõju eelarvele Kommentaarid SEISUKOHAD Eesti seisukoht Teiste riikide seisukohad Kommentaarid Eelnõude infosüsteemis (EIS) on antud täitmiseks ülesanne. Eelnõu toimik: 19.1.1/21-1244 - COM(2021) 699 COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Soil Strategy for 2030 Reaping the benefits of healthy soils for people, food, nature and climate Arvamuse andmine eelnõu kohta Keskkonnaministeeriumile vastavalt Riigikantselei 08.12.2021 resolutsioonile. Osapooled: Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium; Maaeluministeerium; Rahandusministeerium; Sotsiaalministeerium Tähtaeg: 07.01.2022 23:59 Link eelnõu toimiku vaatele: https://eelnoud.valitsus.ee/main/mount/docList/310094fe-830b-491e-8386-e27981dba365 Link menetlusetapile: https://eelnoud.valitsus.ee/main/mount/docList/310094fe-830b-491e-8386-e27981dba365?activity=2 Eelnõude infosüsteem (EIS) https://eelnoud.valitsus.ee/main I ntroduction Too few know that t he thin layer that lies below our feet holds our future. S oil and the multitude of organisms that live in it provide us with food , biomass and fibres , raw materials , regulate the water, carbon and nutrient cycles and make life on land possible. It take s thousands of years to produce a few centimetres of this magic carpet. S oil hosts more than 25% of all biodiversity on the planet and is the foundation of the food chains nourishing humanity and above ground biodiversity. This fragile layer will be expected to feed and filter drinking water fit for consumption to a global population of nearly 10 billion people by 2050 . Healthy soils are also the largest terrestrial carbon pool on the planet. This feature , coupled with their sponge-like function to absorb water and reduce the risk of flooding and drought, make s soil an indispensable ally for climate change mitigation and adaptation . H ealthy soils therefore integrate part of the Union’s climate, biodiversity and also long - term economic objectives . The EU ’s rich soil patrimony features a myriad soil types (covering 24 of the world’s 32 major soil groups), each with its own identity and specific characteristics . Such richness is a n asset that needs to be protected and preserved for future generations . Yet, our soils are suffering. It has been estimated that about 60 to 70% of soils in the EU are not healthy . L and and soil continue to be subject t o severe degradation processes such as erosion, compaction, organic matter decline, pollution, loss of biodiversity, salini s ation and sealing . This damage is the result of unsustainable land use and management, overexploitation and emissions of pollutant s . For example, e very year, about 1 billion tonnes of soil are washed away by erosion in Europe . B etween 2012 and 201 8 more than 400 km² of land was taken per year in the EU on a net basis . C ropland and grasslands in the EU provide EUR 76 billion worth of ecosyste m services per year : less than one third c o me from crop production , the rest from other ecosystem services . However , while the benefits of healthy soil s and the costs of soil degradation together with the depletion of its ecosystem services are shared by the public and the land user s , the latter ha ve most of the prerogative on its use and management. Furthermore, t he value of the soil capital must be properly reflected in natural capital accounts so that our dependence on it becomes more visible. To avoid the risks and impacts that continued soil degradation has on the economy and people’s wellbeing, s oils deserve the utmost and urgent attention of g overnments, p arliament s , public authorities at all levels as well economic operators, soil users , local communities and citizens . Investing in prevention and restoration of soil degradation makes sound economic sense. As the EU’s largest terrestrial ecosystem, healthy soils sustain many sectors of the economy while soil degradation is costing the EU several tens of billion euros per year . Management practices that sustain and enhance soil health and biodiversity improve cost efficiency and limit the inputs (e.g. pesticides, fertilisers) needed to maintain yields. Halting and reversing current trends of soil degradation could generate up to EUR 1.2 trillion per year in economic benefits globally . T he cost of inaction on soil degradation , which outweighs the cost of action by a factor of 6 in Europe , goes beyond the economic calculation; it would not only lead to fertility loss comprising global food security, but also impact on the quality of products and their nutritional value . To reap the benefits of healthy soils for people, food, nature and climate , the EU needs a renewed Soil S trategy that set s out a framework and concrete measures for protect ing , restor ing and sustainabl y us ing soils and that mobili s e s the necessary societal engagement and financial resources, shared knowledge, sustainable practices and monitoring to reach common objectives. The strategy is closely linked and works in synergy with the other EU policies stemming from the European Green Deal and will underpin our ambition for global action on soil at international level . This will only be achieved through a combination of new voluntary and legally binding measures, presented here below , developed in full respect of subsidiarity and building on existing national soil policies. Figure 1: links between the EU Soil Strategy and other EU initiatives V ision and objectives : a chieving good soil health by 2050 The vision for soil By 2050, all EU soil ecosystems are in healthy condition and are thus more resilient , which will require very decisive changes in this decade. By then, p rotection , sustainable use and restoration of soil has become the norm . As a key solution, h ealthy soil s contribute t o address our big challenges of achiev ing climate neutrality and becoming resilient to climate change , developing a clean and circular (bio) economy, rever sing biodiversity loss, safeguard ing human health, halt ing desertification and rever sing land degradation. This new vision for soil is anchored in the EU b iodiversity strategy for 2030 and the Climate Adaptation Strategy . This Soil Strategy therefore builds on and will significantly contribute to several of the objectives of the Green Deal and objectives prior to that : Medium-term objectives by 2030 C ombat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world (Sustainable Development Goal 15.3) . S ignificant areas of degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems , including soils , are restored . A chieve a n EU net greenhouse gas removal of 310 million tonnes CO 2 equivalent per year for the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector . R each good ecological and chemical status in surface waters and good chemical and quantitative status in groundwater by 2027 . Reduce nutrient losses by at least 50%, the overall use and risk of chemical pesticides by 50% and the use of more hazardous pesticides by 50% by 2030 . S ignificant progress has been made in the remediat ion of contaminated sites . Long-term objectives by 2050 R each no net land take . S oil pollution should be reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to human health and natural ecosystems and respect the boundaries our planet can cope with, thus creating a toxic-free environment . A chiev e a climate-neutral Europe and , as the first step , aim to achiev e land-based climate neutrality in the EU by 2035 . Achieve for EU a climate-resilient society, fully adapted to the unavoidable impacts of climate change by 2050 . Aside from some existing EU legal provisions relevant to soil protection and actions undertaken under the 2006 Soil Thematic Strategy , the EU has so far not b e e n able to equip itself with a n adequate legal framework granting soil the same level of protection as water , marine environment and air. Yet, the need has become more pressing , and the knowledge about soils and the recognition of the ir value has advanced significantly over the past years . The pressures, expectations and claims on soil have intensified, while the climate and biodiversity crises are aggravating the situation . We need healthy soils now more than ever. What is a healthy soil? Soils are healthy when they are in good chemical , biological and physical condition , and thus able to continuously provide as many of the following ecosystem services as possible : p rovid e food and biomass production, including in agriculture and forestry; a bsorb, s tor e and filter water and transform nutrients and substances, thus protecting groundwater bodies ; p rovid e the basis for life and biodiversity, including habitats, species and genes; a ct as a carbon reservoir ; p rovid e a physical platform and cultural services for humans and their activities; a ct as a source of raw materials; c onstitut e an archive of geological, geomorphological and archaeological heritage. T he upcoming Commission proposal for a Nature Restoration Law aim s at restoring ecosystems to good condition by 2050. Yet to achieve that objective for soil ecosystems, given the lack of EU soil policy, a number of important policy gaps will remain and would need to be filled. This Communication addresses these gaps through several strands . The lack of dedicated EU legislation has been singled out by many as a major cause for the alarming state of our soils. Indeed, soil degradation has impacts that go beyond national borders (see accompanying staff working document), and lack of action in one Member State may lead to environmental degradation in another one. Equally, soil degradation, and an uneven and fragmented response by Member States to tackle it, has led to an uneven playing field for economic operators who have to go by different rules on soil protection while competing on the same market . To address transboundary impacts of soil degradation, secure equal market conditions, promote policy coherence at EU and national level and thus be able to achieve our goals on climate change, biodiversity, food security and water protection, the Commission will table a dedicated legislative proposal on soil health by 2023 which will enable the objectives of this strategy to be met and good soil health to be achieved across the EU by 2050. Such a legislative initiative will fulfil better regulation requirements, be based on a thorough impact assessment , including a subsidiarity check, and fully respect the competences of Member States in this matter. To determine the scope and content of this proportionate and risk - based framework, the Commission will engage in a broad and inclusive consultation with Member States, the European Parliament and all relevant stakeholders. While there is a big variety in the EU, soils also present a set of common characteristics . This makes it possible to defin e common ranges or thresholds beyond which soils cannot be considered healthy anymore. Such indicators for soil health and their range of values that should be achieved by 2050 to ensure good soil health will need to be developed and agreed , and they should be considered at EU level in the context of the Soil Health Law to ensure a level playing field and a high level of environmental and health protection . The Commission will mandate the new enlarged Expert Group on S oil Protection to develop them, building on the Soil Mission’s work . The membership of the current Commission Expert Group will be complemented in a balanced manner in order to provide additional advice . The Mission Board had advocated to aim for 75% of the soils of the European Union (EU) to be healthy or improving by 2030 . K nowing the health of a soil is very relevant for farmers, foresters, landowners, but also for banks, public authorities and many other stakeholders. There is an increasing interest for a refined soil quality index, e.g. in the financial and industrial sector. Some Member States have developed certificate s of soil health to be provided during land transactions to adequately inform the buyer. In parallel, both the public and p rivate sectors have been developing and investing in outcome - oriented approaches fostering effective practices for soil health, biodiversity, carbon storage capacity, etc . S oil as a key solution for our big challenges Soil for climate change mitigation and adaptation N et removals from the LULUCF sector are on a worrying trend . Between 2013 and 2018, the yearly net carbon removals were reduced by 20% . -35560 135890 Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 relies also on carbon removals through the restoration and better management of soils to absorb the emissions that will remain at the end of an ambitious decarbonisation pathway. Targeted and continued sustainable soil management practices can significantly help in achieving climate neutrality by eliminating the anthropogenic emissions from organic soils and by increasing the carbon stocked in mineral soils. Healthy s oil s will make the EU more resilien t and reduc e its v ulnerability to climate change. G iven the crucial role of soil in the water cycle , it is also an indispensable ally for climate adaptation . A high water retention capacity in soils reduces the effects of floods and decreases the negative impact of droughts. T he revision of the LULUCF Regulation that the Commission is propos ing within the Fit for 55 legislative package aims to stop and reverse this trend and simplify the accounting rules . In relation to climate change, the se two main types of soils play an important role : Organic soils ( including peatland s ) have a high carbon content of more than 20 % in dry weight and cover 8 % of the EU . Peatlands are terrestrial wetland s in which waterlogged conditions prevent plant material from fully decomposing. P eatland drainage across all land categories in Europe alone emits around 5% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions . Emissions from cultivated organic soils have still not decreased significantly due to the continuation of harmful cropping practices . Yet r estoring drained organic soils alone could significantly reduce CO 2 emiss ions from land , which comes with numerous co-benefits , for nature, biodiversity and water protection . Mineral soils feature a carbon content below 20% , although more generally it is below 5%. Every year m ineral soils under cropland are losing around 7.4 million tonnes of carbon , caused i.a. by unsustainable farming practices . Yet, that carbon pool is the ‘bank account’ of farmers and foresters in terms of natural capital. It is essential not to deplete it, as the carbon content is the basis for soil ’s biodiversity, health and fertility. Furthermore, c arbon sequestration in mineral soils , while depending on soil type and climatic conditions, is a cost-effective emission mitigation method with significant potential to sequester between 11 to 38 MtCO 2 eq annually in Europe if a range of management practices which have already been identified are applied o n a larger scale in arable land . Many of these practices are cost-effective . Foresters as well have significant opportunities for measures which simultaneously improve forest productivity, carbon sink function and healthy soil properties . . The banking and financial sector is increasingly interested in investing in those farmers who apply sustainable practices and increase soil carbon, as well as creating market-based incentives for carbon storing. There is evidence that carbon farming can contribute significantly to the EU’s efforts to tackle climate change but also brings other co-benefits such as increased biodiversity and t he preservation of ecosystems . Actions For soils to help meet the climate neutrality objective and contribute to climate adaptation, t he Commission will , in line with the Fit for 55 package : For organic soils : Based on the results of the impact assessment, c onsider p ropos ing legally binding objectives in the context of the Nature Restoration Law, to limit drainage of wetlands and organic soils and to restore managed and drained peatlands , in order to maintain and increase soil carbon stocks , minimise flooding and drought risks, and enhance biodiversity , taking into account the implications of these objectives for future carbon farming initiatives and agricultural and forestry production systems . Furthermore, the EU is committed to the protection of wetlands and peatlands in line with the provisions of the CAP strategic plan regulation. Contribute to the assessment of the state of peatlands in the context of the Global Peatlands Initiative hosted by FAO and UNEP . For mineral soils : The Commission will consider measures, possibly in the context of the Nature Restoration Law, to enhance biodiversity in agricultural land that would contribute to conserving and increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) , J oin the international initiative ‘ 4 p e r 1000 ’ to increas e the soil carbon in agricultural land . D evelop a long-term vision for sustainable carbon cycles (including capture, storage, and use of CO 2 ) in a climate-neutral EU economy. As part of this, t he Commission will deliver a c ommunication on restoring sustainable carbon cycles, in 2021 and present the EU carbon farming initiative and a legislative proposal on carbon removal certification in 2022 to promote a new green business model rewarding land managers, such as farmers and foresters, for climate–friendly practices . Soil and the circular economy 100965 34290 0 0 Soil is a major partner in a resource - efficient and circular economy , since it is arguably the planet’s biggest recycling machine: it recycles water, carbon and nutrients, and can break down and filter pollutants. In addition, soil deposits are used as raw material by many economic sectors, e.g. sand, gravel or clay for the construction industry. Yet , soil formation is so slow that prudent use is necessary. P rioriti s ing the circular use of land over greenfield development will limit the acute pressure from soil sealing and land take. A s afe, sustainable and circular use of excavated soil Most excavated soils are clean, fertile and healthy and should be reused in the same or an other appropriate location. If it is not possible to reuse excavated soils, e.g. due to unacceptable levels of pollution , such soil s should be prioriti s ed for recycling or some other form of recovery rather than landfilling , in line with the waste hierarchy. A sustainable use of raw material is necessary . In 2018, more than 530 million tonnes o f e xcavated soils were generated and reported as waste , with two thirds of such waste being recover ed in operations bringing that soil back into the economy . T o separate contaminated soil from clean soil, these streams have to be monitored more closely throughout the value chain, with traceability and quality control from the excavation site up to the receiving end. Actions The Commission will: I nvestigate the streams of excavated soils generated, treated and reused in the EU, and benchmark the market situation in Member States by 2023 . Th is should give a complete picture of the situation in the EU . As part of the development of the Soil Health Law, a ssess the need and potential for legally binding provisions for a ‘ p assport for excavated soil ’ , and p rovide guidance , based on Member States ’ experiences, to put in place such a system. The passport should reflect the quantity and quality of the excavated soil to ensure that it is transported , treated or reused safely elsewhere . Limiting land take and soil sealing with a circular use of land S oils provid e the foundation for buildings and infrastructure. However, when we seal soil to build on top , we are losing irreversibly all its key ecosystem services, exposing cities to higher flood peaks and more intense heat island effect s . Land and soil degradation are intertwined because ‘ land ’ indicates the surface, while ‘ soil ’ is the natural resource below it. L and and soils a re fragile and limited resource s subject to an ever growing hunger for space : u rban sprawl and soil sealing consume natur e and t ransform valuable ecosystems into concrete deserts. This often affects the most fertile soils and reduc es the potential for farmers and foresters to make a decent living . Having suffered from increased vulnerability to extreme weather events and other externalities , s ome Member States have set targets to reduce land take , however with uneven results. Land recycling, namely constructing in or rehabilitating already previously built - up areas , accounted for only 13 . 5% of urban developments in the EU (between 2006 and 2012 ) , so there is room for improvement . I n fact , some Member States have achieved rates higher than 50%, and up to 80%, show ing that sustained land recycling is possible . This spares natural areas for the benefit of biodiversity , forests and green spaces, land for food and biomass production , water and rainfall regulation . Hence , there is a need to apply a hierarchy in land planning. Figure 2 : Land take hierarchy Actions The EU should achieve no net land take by 2050 , which will contribute to the net removals target of 2030 . To do so, notably Member States should: Set by 202 3 their own ambitious national, regional and local targets to reduce net land take by 2030 in order to make a measurable contribution to the EU target of 2050 , and report on progress. Integrate the ‘ land take hierarchy’ into the ir Urban Greening Plans , and give priority to reus ing and recycling land and to quality urban soils at national, regional and local level, through appropriate regulatory initiatives and by phasing out financial incentive s that would go against this hierarchy, such as local fiscal benefits for conver ting agricultural or natural land into built environment. The Commission will also : Provide a definition of net land take in the Soil Health Law. As part of the impact assessment for the Soil Health Law, consider provisions for Member States to report on progress in achieving their land take targets As part of the impact assessment of the Soil Health Law, consider options for m onitor ing and report ing on progress towards the no net land take targets and the implementation of the land take hierarchy on the basis of the data reported by Member States . Provide guidance to public authorities and private companies on how to reduce soil sealing , including best practices for locally-driven initiatives for desealing artificial surfaces to let soil breath e , with a revision of the EU Soil Sealing Guidelines by 2024 . Foster an exchange of best practices , building on experiences from Member States or regions that have spatial planning systems which successfully address the challenge of land take with a view to develop ing a common methodology . Closing the nutrient and carbon circle L eaves, biomass and roots are broken down by soil organisms to simpler compounds that provide soil fertility and are suitable to be taken up again by plants . R ecycl ing organic matter such as compost, digestate, sewage sludge, processed manure and other agricultural residues has many advantages: the material after appropriate treatment serves as organic fertili s er, helps to replenish depleted soil carbon pools , and improv es water retention cap a city and soil structure , and thus enables clos ing of the nutrient and carbon cycle. However, this should always be carried out in a safe and sustainable way to prevent soil pollution . For that reason, the Commission will by 2022 revise the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and the list of surface water and groundwater pollutants, evaluate the Sewage Sludge Directive and adopt an Integrated Nutrient Management Action for a safe r use of nutrients on soil. In the impact assessment for the Soil Health Law, the Commission will assess measures that can contribute to achieving the objective of the reduction of nutrient losses by at least 50% (resulting in the reduction of use of fertilisers by at least 20%), including the option of making this target legally binding. Building on the obligation to collect organic waste separately , the Commission will seek to finance a new LIFE project that addresses as an ad hoc priority the use of high quality compost from biowaste on soil. The Commission will also continue funding research to address the environmentally sound recovery of organic fertilisers from bio-waste. Soil biodiversity for human , animal and plant health 19235 76256 0 0 Beneath our fields and our feet, an eclectic community of soil organisms toil day and night in a remarkable, coordinated effort that sustains life on Earth. One handful of healthy soil can contain up to a billion bacteria , more than one kilometre of fungi essential to plant and animal life . Yet we only know a little percentage of them . Moreover, soil hosts the first stages of life of many insects and pollinators . Soil biodiversity greatly contribut e s to human health. S ince the discovery of penicillin from a soil fungus, antibiotics produced by soil microbes have saved millions of lives . R ecently, certain soil bacteria have been instru m ental in a breakthrough in the development of much needed new antibiotics . S everal cholesterol - lowering drugs were developed from so i l fungi . It has been shown that children often playing in healthy forest soils have a stronger immune system . The ‘ One Health ’ principle clearly recogni s es that the health of the planet is closely linked with huma n and animal health . I f one group is affected, this influences the health of the rest : for instance , the more balanced nutrients and trace elements are in soil the more nutritious food is . M any s oil microorganisms are powerful allies against pollution , since they are capable of breaking complex contaminants, performing bioremediation for free. Equally , the healthier and cleaner the soil, the cleaner our water resources and the air we breathe . The s oil fungal network has been shown to be key in maintaining healthy forests by enabling trees to share nutrients, water or defence signals . Yet, soil biodiversity, just as the above - ground organisms , is thre atened by land - use change, over exploitation, pollution, climate change and invasive alien species such as the New Zealand flatworm , a predator that can lead to the decline of earthworms and have dramatic effects on soil productivity . There is a need to increase the knowledge on the impact of land use change , overexploitation and other stressors on soil biodiversity, also by using synergies between the FSDN (Farm Sustainability Data Network ) and LUCAS (Land Use and Coverage Area frame Survey) Soil . A chiev ing many of the targets of the EU b iodiversity strategy and f arm to f or k strategy will also benefit soil biodiversity . To protect a nd preserve soil organisms , we need to monitor and know more about them and cooperate at international level. Actions T he Commission will: Show its global leading role in building knowledge on soil biodiversity by p ublish ing by 2022 the first assessment of EU soil biodiversity and antimicrobial resistance genes in agricultural soils under different management regimes ( through the LUCAS S oil ) . Assess the risk of f urther alien f latworm species for their potential inclusion in the list of ‘invasive alien species of Union concern’, in line with the Invasive Alien Species Regulation . Strive for better coherence and stronger synergies between the Rio Conventions and strive for a post - 2020 g lobal b iodiversity f ramework that recognises the importance of soil biodiversity, strengthens the use of sustainable soil management practices to safeguard ecosystem services ( namely by promoting agro-ecology and other biodiversity-friendly practices ) and integrat es soil preservation and restoration in different targets and indicators . Actively contribute to the adoption by the 15 th Conference of the Parties to the C onvention on B iological D iversity of the plan of action 2020-2030 for the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Soil Biodiversity and the updated plan of action and to its subsequent implementation . S tep up efforts in mapping, assessing, protecting and restoring soil biodiversity and s upport the establishment of the Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory as proposed by the Food and Agricultural Organisation’s ( FAO ) Global Soil Partnership . Soil for healthy water resources 20467 77568 Soils , sediment s and water are intimately connected . S oils filter, absorb and buffer water , but can also get eroded and polluted . When soil is sealed, water is transported differently across surfaces. Methods that allow floodwaters to infiltrate soils in order to reduce disasters and pollution to water bodies are important for water management. The restoration of the sponge-like function of soils can boost the supply of clean, fresh water and reduce the risk of flooding and drought. Also, some h ighly fertile and carbon-rich soils are eroded and deposited downstream in river basins, dams and the sea, where often this sediment is dredged for nautical reasons. These sediments could be reused again , provided they are clean . Hence , coordinat ing water and soil policies is essential to achieving healthy soils and aquatic ecosystems through better soil and water management, including across borders, and reducing the impact of floods on people and the economy . There is a comprehensive body of EU water law in place , and the new EU strategy on a daptation to c limate c hange highlights the importance of healthy soils in minimising climate change related risks , such as floods and droughts . T he Commission will consider addressing the adequate integration and coordination of soil and water management , including in the impact assessment for a Soil Health Law . It will also facilitate exchange of practices among the Member States on the nexus between soil , water and sediment and publish a guidance on the sustainable management of sediment. Member States should better integrate soil and land use management in the ir river basin and flood risk management plans where possible by deploy ing nature - based solutions such as protective natural features, landscape features, river restoration, floodplains, etc. Preventing soil and land degradation and restoring healthy soils Making sustainable soil management the new normal 48911 56603 0 0 Soil s are generally healthy in unmanaged and natural ecosystems , and can be maintained healthy also in managed ecosystems through the application of sustainable soil management (SSM) . This is a set of pra ctices that is able to maintain the soil in , or restore it to , a healthy condition yielding multiple benefits , including for water and air . The se practices increase soil biodiversity, fertility and resilience which are needed for the vit ality of rural areas . There is no magic recipe for SSM that appli es to all soil types and climatic conditions or to all type s of land use. An increasing amount of k nowledge , including empirical knowledge , can be applied in agriculture and forestry . On the principles to be followed, t here are international reference documents such as the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management . However, there is no agreed common definition at EU level of SSM that is concrete and complete to be enforceable. These practices are also part of broader agro-ecological principles which are at the heart o f the f arm to f ork and b iodiversity s trateg ies and their targets to bring back at least 10% of agricultural area under high-diversity landscape features , to reduce nutrient losses and risk and use of chemical pesticides , to increase the proportion of agricultural land under organic farming and to increase soil organic matter. T here is evidence that soil carbon levels are likely to improve if organic farming is applied to agricultural production systems . Equally , agroforestry provides many benefits for soil health and climate adaptation. Other sustainable practices include cover cropping, crop rotation, the incorporation of crop residues , contour farming in slopes, avoid heavy machinery, the safe and compost, preventing conversion to arable land, conversion to grassland, continuous soil cover, reduced tillage and chemical inputs. Making sustainable soil management the new normal requires coordination and working together at local, regional , national , EU and global level to promote and implement such practices. Playing its role, the Commission will integrate the sustainable use of soils in the relevant EU policies. The role of advisory services both in agriculture and forestry is absolutely essential in assisting land users. For agricultural soils, local action must be closely nurtured and fostered with sufficient support from the f arm a dvisory s ervices and the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) of the CAP s trategic p lans. The new CAP has introduced an enhanced conditionality for environmental protection . Conditionality sets the baseline for more ambitious and sustainable agricultural commitments through environment- and climate-friendly farming practices under eco-schemes and rural development interventions. M aintaining healthy soils is particularly important , including in forests, as there is a strong interdependence between trees and the soil on which they grow, with mutual benefits and losses. In line with the new Forest Strategy , f orest management need s to avoid unsustainable practices that degrade the soil, for example through compaction, erosion or loss of soil organic carbon. To make it happen on the ground, and inspired by the French national soil sampling scheme BDAT , a ‘ TEST YOUR SOIL FOR FREE ’ initiative is proposed below . Knowing more about soil characteristics (pH, bulk density, soil organic matter, nutrient balance, etc . ) will help land users to adopt the best management practices. For that reason, building on years of experience surveying soils in the LUCAS survey, the Commission will assist Member States in setting up, with their own funds, a system to test soil for free for those land users that so wish , and who will receive the results of the tests. This will complement existing obligations in Member States for soil sampling. In order to maximise consistency in approaches to sampling techniques, and to ensure appropriate advice, the involvement of AKIS advisors is crucial. An estimate of the costs involved in such an initiative are included in the s taff w orking d ocument accompanying this strategy . Along the food value chain, many businesses are increasingly committing to agr o -food and forestry production practices that respect and increase the health of soil s . This helps rais e consumer awareness and addresses expectations by citizens and stakeholders of concrete results on soil health. Actions To promote sustainable soil management, t he Commission will: As part of the Soil Health law, and in the context of an impact assessment, assess requirements for the sustainable use of soil so that its capacity to deliver ecosystem services is not hampered , including the option of setting legal requirements . Prepare, in consultation with Member States and stakeholders, a set of ‘sustainable soil management’ practices, including regenerative farming in line with agro-ecological principles, adapted to the wide variability of soil ecosystems and types , and identify unsustainable soil management practices. Provide assistance to Member States to put in place through national funds the ‘ TEST YOU R SOIL FOR FREE ’ . Create with the Member States a network of excellence of practitioners, and an inclusive network of SSM ambassadors, including on regenerative and organic agriculture, connecting stakeholders beyond academia and agricultural actors. For this they will build on the work of Living Labs and Lighthouses of the Mission ’A Soil Deal for Europe’ (see Section 5.3 ) . I n the context of the CAP and in close cooperation with the Member States, continue the dissemination of successful sustainable soil and nutrient management solutions, including through the national rural networks of the r ural d evelopment p rogramme, farm advisory services and AKIS , and the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability ( EIP-AGRI ) . Promote SSM through voluntary commitments between actors in the food system under the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Businesses and Marketing practices . Value outstanding achievements and innovative initiatives on sustainable soil management by strengthening cooperation with the farming community such as t hough the E uropean L and O wners Soil Award . Continue to support the Global Soil Partnership in promoting sustainable soil management worldwide . P ropose b y 2023 a legislative framework for a n EU sustainable food system , as indicated in the Farm to Fork Strategy . Member States should: D uly include in their p rogrammes under EU c ohesion p olicy the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of soil, making full use of the EU guidance on integrating ecosystems and their services into decision-making . E nsure the CAP’s strong contribution to maintaining and enhancing soil health , in line with the CAP Strategic Plans analysis and needs assessment . This is to be achieved , among others , by adopt ing ambitious CAP s trategic p lans containing sufficient interventions under the green architecture , following the Commission’s CAP recommendations . The Commission will continue providing necessary guidance and assess the contribution and consistency of these p lans towards the Green Deal targets . Set up at the appropriate level the ‘ TEST YOUR SOIL FOR FREE ’ initiative . P reventing desertification 33655 83185 0 0 The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has recogni s ed the link between desertification, land degradation and drought, and the need to take urgent action by reversing land degradation. It set the target of land-degradation-neutrality (LDN), later taken up as one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 . All Parties of the C onvention have been encouraged to publicly report on land degradation every 4 years , and several EU Member States have submitted the 2018 report . Europe will be affected by a rise in drought conditions (as well as heavy precipitation events ) , thus enhancing the risk of future desertification processes and already affecting agricultural production in Europe . Already in 2008, extensive processes resulting in desertification were observed both in Mediterranean and Central and Eastern European countries, and a study from 2017 confirmed this trend. Whilst t hirteen Member States have declared themselves as ‘ affected p arty ’ under the UNCCD , the EU has not yet done so . While the risk of desertification in the EU relates to specific regions, the environmental, social and economic impact concern s the whole EU . N ot only does the loss of soil fertility put food security at risk , desertification also reduces both above- ground and below-ground biodiversity , further contributes to climate change through loss of soil carbon and feedback effects on the atmosphere , bring s poverty and health problems and lead s to migration within and from outside the EU. The European Court of Auditors concluded that the steps taken by the Commission and Member States to combat desertification lack coherence and that there is no shared vision in the EU on how land degradation neutrality will be achieved by 2030. Despite some progress, much more must be done to transition the agricultur al sector to adapt to the weather extremes , especially at farm level. A wide number of soil protection measures are available that help retain water and reduc e water needs , avoid salinisation and increas e resilience to droughts . Therefore, appl ying specific sustainable soil management practices that retain moisture , planting bushes and trees that generat e shade , and cultivat ing plants and crop species and variants adapted to dry climatic conditions can rever se the trend to wards desertification and restore soils already affected by it . Member States have already been encouraged to develop drought management plans and monitor drought events and their severity with specific indicators . Actions The Commission will: Establish a methodology and relevant indicators, starting with the UNCCD’s three indicators, to assess the extent of desertification and land degradation in the EU . Propose to Member States to declare the EU affected by desertification under UNCCD and c ontinue to encourage Member States to participate in the United Nation’s Land Degradation Neutrality ( LDN ) Target Setting Programme . S upported by the European Environment Agency ( EEA ) and the Joint Research Centre ( JRC ) , publish information every five years about the state of land degradation and desertification in the EU . Continue support to key initiatives such as the Great Green Wall initiative , Regreening Africa , an d aid on land/soil issues in development cooperation . Member States should: Adopt, i n line with the actions envisaged in the EU c limate a daptation strategy , appropriate long - term measures to prevent and mitigate degradation , notably by reducing water use and adapt ing crops to the local water availability, coupled with wider use of drought management plans and application of sustainable soil management. Preventing soil pollution Prevent ing diffuse and point-source soil pollution remains the most effective and cheapest way to ensure clean and healthy soils in the long term. As a priority, contamination should be prevented at the source . This can be done , for example, by having clean industry, sustainable product design, improved recycling , waste management and nutrient recovery , more efficient fertiliser application or reduced pesticide use and risk , as well as implementing the Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment and reducing the use of antimicrobial s . This should be complemented by reduced emissions and a safer production and use of chemicals. The EU has legislation to prevent the release of emissions of hazardous substances into the environment , including soil. To prevent soil contamination, it is important that the risks of chemicals for soil quality and biodiversity are properly considered in risk assessments. Yet, the necessary data on the hazard and environmental fate of and exposure to such chemicals and the resulting risk they pose for soil quality and organisms are often lacking. Actions Building on the Farm to Fork, Biodiversity and Chemical s Strateg ies and the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Commission will: Revise the Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides and evaluate the Sewage Sludge Directive by 2022. I mprove and harmonise the consideration of soil quality and soil biodiversity in EU risk assessments for chemicals, food and feed additives, pesticides, fertilisers, etc. It will do this under the ‘one substance one assessment’ initiative and in collaboration with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the EEA, JRC and the Member States. Restrict intentionally used micro-plastics under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals ( REACH ) Regulation and develop measures on the unintentional release of microplastics by 2022 . Following the initiation of the restriction process by some Member States, t he Commission will prepare a restriction under REACH on all non-essential uses of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ( PFAS ) , preventing their emission to the environment including soil, a nd also develop a policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics by 2022. By July 2024, adopt biodegradability criteria for certain polymers, such as coating agents and agricultural mulch films under the EU Fertilising Products Regulation. The contaminant limits for EU fertilising products will be reviewed by July 2026 as part of the general review of that regulation . Restoring degraded soils and remediating contaminat ed s ites 83185 15240 0 0 A degraded soil has lost partially or completely its capacity to provide its multiple functions and services. In some cases, resorting to sustainable soil management allows soil to re-establish a healthy condition, leading to full recovery after some years (e.g. in case of loss of carbon and biodiversity or compaction and erosion of the top fertile layer). In other cases, active restoration measures are needed for sometimes only partial recovery (e.g. for sealed, desertified, salinised or acidified soils). I n the EU B iodiversity Strategy for 2030 , the Commission announced a proposal for legally binding EU nature restoration targets in 2021 to restore degraded ecosystems, in particular those with the most potential to capture and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters. Sometimes, alas, degradation is irreversible . C ontaminated sites require remediation with often complex and costly techniques , although in certain cases low-cost, bioremediation techniques have been shown to be effective . Nonetheless , in some case s soils have b een degraded to such an extent t hat they cannot be fully restored to a healthy condition at a reasonable cost. In such cases, appropriate measures are needed to confine or manage the risk of the contaminated site in order to prevent any further harm to the environment and human health. By 2050, soil pollution should be reduced to levels which are no longer expected to pose risks and which respect the boundaries our planet can cope with, thus creating a toxic-free environment . Recently, in the case of mercury-contaminated soil , one Member State with a well-maintained register (Belgium) identified more than 1 600 contaminated sites while several other Member States reported none . S ome Member States have very comprehensive legislation in place at national or regional level, while others do not . This latter group has no specific soil contamination and remediation laws, appl ies more of an ad hoc approach and do es not have a register for (potentially) contaminated sites. Reporting on progress in manag ing soil contamination is currently voluntary, irregular and based on a changing methodology, different national definitions, screening values and risk assessment methodologies. In light of this lack of level playing field , the Commission will therefore explore the need for legal provisions to make such reporting mandatory and uniform across the EU in the context of the Soil Health Law . When efforts to prevent and control the source of pollution have failed and contaminants reach the soil and pose risks for the environment and human health, the soil must be remediated and the polluter should pay for it. The Environmental Liability Directive obliges certain operators to remediate contaminated land that poses risks for human health if pollution occurred as the consequence of activities carried out after 30 April 2007 or, if carried out before, not yet finished at that date . The Industrial Emissions Directive requests operators of certain installations to establish the state of soil and groundwater contamination at the start of operations, apply for a permit that includes conditions to prevent soil pollution through application of the best available techniques and to take necessary action upon definitive cessation to return the site to its initial status. T he Commission is also working on a revision of the Environmental Crime Directive, which will propose an ambitious instrument to tackle environmental crime and introduce effective tools for law enforcement authorities across the Union to enforce its environmental policy (including soil pollution offences) , with the support of Eurojust in cross-border cases. However, for historical or orphan contaminated sites, a common approach is lacking in the EU, which is a very important legal gap. It is crucial that all Member States identify and maintain a register for contaminated sites, assess the risks and finally remediate these sites in case of unacceptable risks. This is required to honour the several commitments made at global level on the management of contaminated sites . All Member States face the same challenges and independently have to develop national methodologies for assess ing the risks of soil contamination. In 2018, there were more than 21 000 registered chemicals on the EU market . The PFAS group alone consists of more than 4 700 chemicals highly persistent in the soil and in humans . Only a very small fraction of all chemicals is screened in the standard soil analysis, and even fewer substances are regulated under national legislation with contaminant thresholds. This means that most chemicals remain undetected in the soil. The fate, behaviour and (eco)toxicological effects of contaminants of emerging concern are not yet well understood, especially for lower orders of soil biota. There is a need to assess the risks of these substances already present in soils, sediments and water bodies, and take appropriate remedial action if required. This is a shared challenge that requires increased knowledge and data exchange and collaboration between Member States. Actions A s part of the impact assessment for a Soil Health Law , the Commission will : - consider options for propos ing legally binding provisions to : i) identify contaminated sites, ii) set up an inventory and register of those sites and iii) remediate the sites that pose a significant risk to human health and the environment by 2050. - assess the feasibility of the introduction of a soil health certificate for land transaction to provide land buyers with information on the key characteristics and health of the soils in the site they intend to purchase . In addition to the se legal provisions , the Commission will : In cooperation with Member States and stakeholders, facilitate a dialogue and knowledge exchange on the risk assessment methodologies for soil contamination and identify best practices. By 202 4 , develop an EU priority list for contaminants of major and/or emerging concern that pose significant risks for European soil quality, and for which vigilance and priority action at European and national level is needed. By 2022, r e vise the Industrial Emissions Directive and by 2023 evaluate the Environmental Liability Directive , including with regard to the definition of land damage and the role of financial security . Member States should : Establish a system of soil health certificates for land transactions , with support by the EU research programme and mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ , if this is not included in the Soil Health Law . We need to know more about soils It is essential to make more and better knowledge and data about soils available and to use this knowledge and data . Access to soil research data will be made easier through the creation of a Green Deal dataspace and the implementation of the Horizon Europe Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ . Building on the INSPIRE Directive , o pen standards for data should improve the interoperability of national, EU and global soil monitoring frameworks. Soil and the digital agenda 27305 66040 0 0 Digital technologies present new and untapped opportunities for monitoring the pressures and condition of soils and land. Our knowledge on soil in the last decade has gained enormously from, E arth observation, in particular RADAR systems and hyperspectral sensors, remote sensing, new techniques such as DNA analysis for soil organisms. The target of the Farm to Fork Strategy on availability of fast broadband internet, also in rural areas, will help data transfer and smart use as well as real-time monitoring with sensors . Examples o f digital solutions for addressing soil pollution , including FaST , have been highlighted in the Z ero P ollution A ction P lan . Copernicus , the European Union's Earth observation programme and its l and m onitoring s ervice will continue to provide data on bio-geophysical variables, land cover and land use in the EU and beyond. These activities will radically contribute to innovative soil research and use. Through these activities, it will also be possible to increasingly use machine learning techniques and use more artificial intelligence solutions from sensing systems (such as those provided by precision agriculture) and field-based measuring systems (e.g. hand-held spectrometers, portable DNA extraction, on-site chemical analysis). Actions The Commission will: Enhance the use of digital tools and Copernicus and rely on the JRC to further develop the European Soil Observatory (EUSO) and the EEA to develop the Land Information System for Europe (LISE) , support ed by geospatial analytical products . Encourage and support Member States to set-up farm sustainability tools for nutrients (FaST) , a s part of the farm advisory services under the new CAP . Such tools will provide to farmers recommendations about the use of fertilisers , compliant with existing legislation and based on available data and knowledge . Improve the modelling capacity of soil-related processes under the Commission’s Destination Earth in collaboration with the Horizon Europe Mission ’A Soil Deal for Europe’ . Soil data and monitoring 31750 77848 0 0 Several soil monitoring systems are present at M ember S tate level . H owever, overall , they are fragmented, incomplete and in general not harmoni s ed across the EU . D ata are often not yet publicly shared in accordance with the mechanism of the INSPIRE Directive . There is currently no systematic comprehensive monitoring of policy - relevant issues in many countries due to a lack of capacity or resources. The Commission’s LUCAS s oil initiative is the only monitoring system that provides harmoni s ed and systematic on-the-field measurements for all M ember S tates . But it needs to be better integrated with activities in Member States and other data flows. Also t he EEA provides indicators such as on soil sealing and land take , yet our knowledge on soil w ill greatly profit from better data resolution, more frequen t measurements and harmoni s ation of approach es between Member States . An integrated soil indicator system is needed to serve as an umbrella for further monitoring and reporting . T he EUSO was launched recently to help set up an EU -wide soil monitoring system pursuant to the INSPIRE Directive and in connect ion with national reporting under the NEC Directive and LULUCF Regulation . Actions To fill the monitoring gap for soil, t he Commission will: Following an impact assessment, and a s part of the Soil Health Law , consider provisions on monitoring soil and soil biodiversity and reporting on the condition of soil, building on existing national and EU schemes , including LUCAS soil module ; consider , as part of the impact assessment, providing a legal basis for the LUCAS soil survey to legally anchor the objectives, conditions, funding, access to land, use of data and privacy issues. Provide through the LUCAS soil survey s EU-wide harmoni s ed monitoring of the evolution in soil organic carbon content and carbon stocks , complementing Member States ’ reporting under the LULUCF Regulation . W ork towards integrating a pollution module in the future LUCAS in 2022 soil survey to better understand and map the issue of diffuse soil contamination in the EU, and produce a c lean s oil o utlook as part of the integrated z ero p ollution m onitoring and o utlook f ramework. In implement ing the EU SO : Identify , with the contribution of the European j oint p rogramme on a gricultural s oil m anagement , soil monitoring gaps, i n dialogue with Member States and other key stakeholders De velop a soil dashboard with a set of reliable soil indicators integrating trends and foresight. D evelop an EU inventory of soil biota in order to monitor and better understand soil biodiversity . Soil research and innovation The Horizon Europe framework programme for research and innovation will facilitate knowledge creation, collaboration and thereby accelerate the transition to healthy soils. In this context, there are relevant instruments available through Cluster 6, Food2030 priorities, and the Horizon Europe Partnerships (Food System, Biodiversity, Agroecology, Agriculture of Data, etc.). In addition 43092 78869 0 0 , t he Horizon Europe Mission ’A Soil Deal for Europe’ provides a comprehensive framework for research and innovation and contributes to creating a harmonised EU framework for soil monitoring and reporting and effective research-policy and research-practice interfaces to achiev e healthy soils . In addition to addressing gaps in our knowledge, the mission will test, demonstrate and deploy solutions for soil health for their widespread uptake through a network of ‘ living labs ’ (experiments and innovation in a laboratory on the ground) and ‘ lighthouses ’ (places showcasing good practices) . Actions Through Horizon Europe and in particular the Mission ’A Soil Deal for Europe’ , t he Commission will: I mplement ambitious roadmaps for research and innovation to expand the knowledge base for soil stewardship and widen the access to and use of results from research activities. Continue providing substantial funding to i) research solutions to increase s oil biodiversity ; ii) address s oil degradation; iii) pilot innovative technologies for decontamination . Promote the development and use of d igital and remote sensors, apps and handheld samplers to assess soil quality. Enabling the transition to healthy soils Private finance and EU funding 33655 50800 0 0 Entire value and supply chains and economic sectors depend on healthy soils. Yet, many of the actors in these value chains are un aware of the vulnerability of their assets to soil degradation. I nvestors and banks are becoming increasingly aware of the financial risks of soil degradation and the returns of prevention and restoration. Some banks offer farmers a lower interest rate when their soil is healthy, because the land value is higher and the loans can be resold to sustainable pension funds and asset managers that want to have a positive impact on people and the planet . F armers are more and more financially rewarded for the carbon that their soils capture and the application of sustainable soil management practices through carbon payment schemes . Companies are increasingly offsetting carbon emissions by buying carbon credits from farmers , investing in soil health by applying sustainable farming practices or focusing on the niche of sustainable land redevelopment and remediation . As for funding , the current EU budget provides sources of funding to support the sustainable use and restoration of degraded soils , such as the CAP, the LIFE programme, Horizon Europe, Cohesion Policy . I n the Recovery and Resilience Facility, there is as well a number of national Recovery and Resilience P lans that have included measures on soil protection. Particularly relevant in this context is the Commission’s ‘do no significant harm’ te chnical guidance to help Member States prepar e the ir R ecovery and R esilience P lans . The Commission will set up a dialogue with the public, private and financial sector to see how financing the prevention of soil degradation and the restoration of soil health can be improved. Actions The Commission will: Publish a guide in 2022 with an overview of EU funding opportunities available for the protection, sustainable management and restoration of soils, once all priorities and focus areas for 2021-2027 have been clearly defined. Promote investments in projects that sustainably manage and do no t significant ly harm soils under the EU T axonomy Regulation and its delegated acts. Soil literacy and societal engagement -4445 84455 0 0 Soil is probably the most undervalued element of nature . I ncreasingly urbanised populations often see it just as ‘dirt’ and as an unlimited natural resource , often unaware of its relevance in their daily lives and of its key role in the sustainable and circular bioeconomy . This reflects a lack of emphasis in education of the importance of soil and highlights the need to increase public awareness and societal engagement . Soil literacy combines broad awareness with specialised understanding across a range of disciplines through communication and educational activities that bring soil closer to people’s lives. To achieve this, all stakeholders must have access to both general education on soil and targeted training for specialist needs. Formal soil education should be complemented with active hands on learning and messaging on the sharing of best practices and shared knowledge. The recently adopted i mplementation p lan of the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ outlines the significant contribut ion of the mission to increas e soil literacy through wide engagement with citizens and actors involved along the entire food production chain, including farmers, food companies and retailers . Actions The Commission, together with Member States and stakeholders , will: Launch a soil literacy engagement and awareness initiative , building on the successful example of the “ocean literacy ” . Facilitate and e ncourage the sharing of best practices in communication and engagement on soil, building an EUSO portal and setting up outreach networks aiming at healthy soils . Integrate the issue of soil degradation under the European common reference framework of sustainability competences , to develop the concept of soil literacy with European citizens . Run a comprehensive portfolio of actions for communication, education, and citizen engagement to promote soil health at various levels and bring soils closer to citizen’s values, building on the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ and the EU Soil Observatory. Conclusions 64135 46990 0 0 Bestowing on soil the same level of protection as air and water and marine environment and grant ing the same attention to soil inhabitants as we do for above - ground biodiversity is a major challenge. To succeed, the vision and the commitments set out in this strategy pave the way for ambitious and necessary changes. Successful implementation of th is s oil s trategy requires inclusive and broad governance arrangements at national, EU and global level. We need all stakeholders around the table to d iscuss and collaborate . Therefore, a new governance model based on a ‘ network of network s ’ and inspired by the Coalition4Oceans will be created : the EU Coalition4HealthySoils (C4HS). At its core, the EU Soil E xpert G roup will be enlarged to include a balanced representation of stakeholders. Policy action will continue to be based on data and knowledge from the EU Soil Observatory and the EIONET National Reference Centre on Soil and the Mission ’A Soil Deal for Europe’ . C4HS will interact with other relevant EU expert groups , the Global Soil Partnership and its European Soil Partnership . The EU has always strongly supported the Global Soil Partnership of the FAO and its regional branches and will continue to do so to improve governance on sustainable soil management , including at global level. Our soils need to be healed. It is a matter of our own survival. This Strategy sets therefore ambitious and necessary objectives, on which we need to urgently deliver. It is backed by scientific evidence and puts forward a set of actions which will help us to get there. By launching this Strategy, the Commission is going to engage in discussion s with the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of Regions, as well as with civil society, economic operators and other stakeholders to make this Strategy and its actions a common success. Resolutsiooni liik: Riigikantselei resolutsioon Viide: Keskkonnaministeerium / / ; Riigikantselei / / 2-5/21-02741 Resolutsiooni teema: ELi mullastrateegia 2030. aastaks Adressaat: Keskkonnaministeerium Ülesanne: Tulenevalt Riigikogu kodu- ja töökorra seaduse § 152` lg 1 p 2 ning Vabariigi Valitsuse reglemendi § 3 lg 4 palun valmistada ette Vabariigi Valitsuse seisukoha ja otsuse eelnõu järgneva algatuse kohta, kaasates seejuures olulisi huvigruppe ja osapooli: KOMISJONI TEATIS EUROOPA PARLAMENDILE, NÕUKOGULE, EUROOPA MAJANDUS- JA SOTSIAALKOMITEELE NING REGIOONIDE KOMITEELE ELi mullastrateegia 2030. aastaks Heas seisundis muld inimeste, toidu, looduse ja kliima hüvanguks, COM(2021) 699. EISi toimiku nr: 21-1244. Tähtaeg: 31.01.2022 Adressaat: Maaeluministeerium, Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium, Rahandusministeerium, Sotsiaalministeerium Ülesanne: Palun esitada oma sisend Keskkonnaministeeriumile seisukohtade kujundamiseks antud eelnõu kohta (eelnõude infosüsteemi (EIS) kaudu). Tähtaeg: 07.01.2022 Lisainfo: Eelnõu on kavas arutada valitsuse 10.02.2022 istungil ja Vabariigi Valitsuse reglemendi § 6 lg 6 kohaselt sellele eelneval nädalal (02.02.2022) EL koordinatsioonikogus. Esialgsed materjalid EL koordinatsioonikoguks palume esitada hiljemalt 31.01.2022. Kinnitaja: Katrin Juhandi, Euroopa Liidu asjade direktori asetäitja Kinnitamise kuupäev: 08.12.2021 Resolutsiooni koostaja: Ann Saks [email protected], 693 5201