The European Green Deal: Progress for Soil Protection?

Abstract

AbstractThe chapter deals with legal aspects of soil protection in the European Green Deal (EGD). It aims at examining the various legal instruments used in the different policy approaches of the EGD contributing to soil protection, based on the objectives and content of this extensive growth strategy. The selected standards for assessment are the identified soil threats in the EU and the need for soil protection, based on the results of scientific studies of the IPCC and IP-BES, among other institutions. Currently, there is no comprehensive EU directive to address soil threats and soil-related issues in a coherent way. The chapter analyses in detail the EU Climate Law, the Biodiversity Strategy, the Zero Pollution Strategy and the Farm to Fork Strategy, as well as the general approach to a greener economy and a more sustainable society. It raises the question of whether the current mosaic of approaches to EU soil protection can be overcome and replaced by an overall harmonised and comprehensive strategy. The chapter further addresses the rationale for a legal framework extracted from the policy approaches already presented in the to-be-revised 2006 Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection. Additional emphasis is placed on Sustainable Development Goal 15 and its soil degradation neutrality target, on food security and the relationship with climate change mitigation. Finally, the authors explain the necessary conditions for the adequate development of soil protection law at the European level.KeywordsSoil protectionSustainable use of soilSoil threatsLand degradationSustainable development goal (SDG)Land degradation neutralitySustainable land managementSoil biodiversitySoil organic matterCommon agricultural policyFarm to forkZero pollution