Download Soils Data Needs: an EU perspective

Soils Data Needs: an EU perspective
Arwyn Jones
European Commission
Joint Research Centre
SOIL Action
ISIS Stakeholder Workshop
Dublin
10 September 2013
1
ISIS: expectations?
A knowledge base to support the development and
assessment of policies to manage and protect the soils of
Ireland.
Underpinned by scientifically sound data.
Repository and basis for national monitoring programme.
Support to scenario analysis and impact assessments.
Why do we need it?
European Union drivers of soil data…
The Soil Thematic Strategy
Communication
COM(2006)231, 22.9.2006
Proposal for a
Soil Framework Directive
COM(2006)232, 22.9.2006
Impact Assessment
SEC(2006)1165 & SEC(2006)620, 22.9.2006
Report on the Implementation
of the STS (2012)
Soil in EU Policy Areas
Common
Climate
Energy
Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Change Policy (Post-Kyoto debate, LULUCF)
Policy (Renewable Energies Directive)
Biodiversity
(Nature) Protection Policy (EU Biodiversity Strategy)
Water
Protection Policy (WFD, Groundwater Directive)
Forest
Protection Policy (Forest FOCUS, ICP Forest)
Regional
Policies (Structural funds)
Food
Safety (PPR Registration, EFSA)
Food
Security (FAO)
Development
Waste
Nature
Policy (ACP-Observatory)
Policy (Biowaste Directive, Sewage Sludge Directive)
conservation (NATURA 2000)
……………..etc.
Resource Efficiency Roadmap, COM(2011) 571:
Milestone: By 2020, EU policies take into account their
direct and indirect impact on land use in the EU and
globally, and the rate of land take is on track with an aim
to achieve no net land take by 2050; soil erosion is
reduced and the soil organic matter increased, with
remedial work on contaminated sites well underway.
The Commission will (…) publish guidelines on best
practice to limit, mitigate or compensate soil sealing (in
2012)
COM(2012) 710, 29.11.2012
Priority objective 1:
To protect, conserve and enhance the EU’s natural capital
(23) To reduce the most significant man-made pressures on land, soil and other ecosystems in Europe,
action will be taken to ensure that decisions relating to land use at all relevant levels give proper
consideration to environmental as well as social and economic impacts. The Rio+20 Summit outcome called
for a 'land degradation neutral world'. The EU and Member States should reflect on how best to make such
a commitment operational within their respective competencies as well as to address soil quality issues
within a binding legal framework (COM(2006) 232). Targets will also be set for sustainable land use and
soil.
(26) In order to protect, conserve and enhance the EU's natural capital, the programme shall ensure that
by 2020: (e) Land is managed sustainably in the EU, soil is adequately protected and the remediation of
contaminated sites is well underway.
This requires, in particular: (e) Increasing efforts to reduce soil erosion and increase soil organic matter,
to remediate contaminated sites and to enhance the integration of land use aspects into coordinated
decision-making involving all relevant levels of government, supported by the adoption of targets on soil
and on land as a resource, and land planning objectives.
Guidelines on best practice to limit, mitigate or
compensate soil sealing
SWD(2012) 101 final/2, 15 May 2012
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/soil/sealing_guidelines.htm
Available
in all EU
official
languages
Available
in selected
EU official
languages
Regional Policy proposals
Cohesion Policy Regulation, COM(2011) 612, 6.10.2011
European Regional Development Fund, COM(2011) 614, 6.10.2011
Limit, mitigate or compensate soil sealing and
thus limit land take on greenfields
Promote the regeneration of brownfield
sites and more generally the remediation of
contaminated sites, respecting the 'polluter
pays' principle
Agricultural Policy proposals
Greening of the CAP
Policy instruments such as LFA, GAEC and
Rural Development look to improve soil quality,
limit erosion and preserve SOM.
Preliminary research into preservation and
sequestration of OC in agricultural soils.
Management of peatlands.
Implementation of EU STS (2012)
Increased pressure on land use from population
growth, urbanisation, soil sealing, the rising
consumption of meat and dairy products, and the
increased use of biomass for energy and other
industrial purposes
Issues exacerbated by climate change services,
especially in relation to biodiversity, water cycle
and carbon stocks.
Efficient Resources Use - agriculture and
horticulture are highly dependent on the good
management of soils for their long-term viability.
Rio+20: 'The future we want'
205. We [the Heads of State and Government and high-level
representatives] recognize the economic and social significance of
good land management, including soil, particularly its contribution
to economic growth, biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and food
security, eradicating poverty, the empowerment of women, addressing
climate change and improving water availability. (…)
206. We recognize the need for urgent action to reverse land
degradation. In view of this, we will strive to achieve a
land-degradation neutral world in the context of sustainable
development. This should act to catalyse financial resources from a
range of public and private sources.
International
developments
Meeting of the Open Working Group on SDGs on 22-24
May 2013 on the cluster Food-Agriculture-DLDD
First plenary assembly of FAO's Global Soil Partnership on
11-12 June 2013
FAO's proposal to the UN General Assembly to endorse the
World Soil Day on 5 December
FAO's proposal to the UN General Assembly to proclaim an
International Year of Soils in 2015
UNCCD developments
Second Global Soil Week organised by the IASS on 28-31
October 2013 in Berlin
Global Soil Partnership: Soil is a cross-cutting theme between
food security, climate change, desertification and biodiversity
Food Security
Climate Change
IPCC
IP
IPBES
UNCCD
CBD
Biodiversity
CST
Desertification
Discussion / Issues
1.
Much attention focused on threats versus spatial
assessments of soil functions (MDG/SDG, biology, etc).
2.
Very limited understanding and quantitative assessments
of actual trends – national monitoring programme?
3.
Impact assessments/scenario analysis/foresight – do we
have the data for the questions asked 10-20 years from
now?
Typical impact assessments
Economic estimate of the services provided by soil: fertility, water
retention, break down of pollutants, genetic pool, carbon cycle etc.
Parameters to be considered in risk assessments for contaminated
sites & development of less-costly, more sustainable soil
remediation techniques for contaminated sites, evolution of
agricultural policies.
Models for evaluating the effect of soil sealing on floods at local and
regional levels
Concepts, baseline and indicators for implementing the Rio+20 goal
towards a 'land-degradation neutral world
Preservation and enhancement of OC stocks (management of peat)
Discussion / Issues 2
4.
Multiscale assessments?
5.
Integration with other data providers?
6.
Awareness raising and capacity building
7.
2015 EC Communication on land as a resource
Thank you very much
for your attention.
[email protected]