The Role of Soils in International Climate Change Policy

Soils have received comparatively little attention in international climate policy. This disregard does not reflect their relevance as a source of emissions and the necessity to take actions to adapt to climate change to ensure food security. Croplands and pastures are the largest sources of global CH₄ and N₂O, in particular through rice fields, peatland draining and fertilizer application. They are also the planet’s largest storage of carbon after oceans. Nevertheless, challenges related to measuring the climate impact of soil management, concerns about trade implications of agricultural mitigation, and difficulties deploying finance to create climate resilient landscape have long delayed important climate action. The recently adopted Paris Agreement holds the potential for renewed impetus into actions that help landscapes to adapt to climate change while reducing emissions, such as agroforestry, conservation agriculture, pasture and landscape management. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the consideration of soils in the context of international climate change policy and to discuss how soil protection could be strengthened building on the Paris Agreement as a positive momentum for climate action.