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The condition of Europe’s soil is under pressure with its
deterioration costing the EU up to €38 billion a year, according
to a report unveiled in Berlin.
The report, published by green groups EEB and DNR, says
an EU-wide Soil Directive should be backed by member states
to ensure soil is protected like other natural resources such
as water or air.
‘Soil: worth standing your ground for’ reveals that
the second largest carbon store on earth after oceans is being
slowly, but continuously, run down in Europe. Almost ten per
cent of Europe’s soil is completely sealed over.
“We are paving over valuable agricultural soils for cities
and roads, squeezing it out through intensive agriculture
and polluting it in industrial accidents,” said Sarolta Tripolszky
of EEB. “The very basis of everything we depend on is slowly
eroding beneath our feet and it’s time for action to put a
stop to this”.
Big member states such as Germany, the UK and France have
been blocking a Soil Directive as they argue it would increase
bureaucracy, implementation costs and go against their national
interests.
However, at a recent conference - entitled ‘Yes to a European
Soil Directive’ - scientists, politicians and NGOs demonstrated
that soil protection is in the European interest - and, like
climate and water, cannot be left to individual countries.
They also showed that implementing the Soil Directive would
not incur high costs as member states claim - and would actually
reduce the overall costs to society.
“In times of climate risk and growing world population, soil
becomes an increasingly important resource for food production
and to maintain public health. Soil is also an invaluable
asset in the fight against climate change,” said Tripolszky.
The report states that 'it is more costly to do nothing'
and that establishing a preventive policy at EU level would
avoid soil pollution and consequently minimise clean-up costs.
Specialised firms in Europe would also benefit from the export
of soil remediation technologies and know-how. Maintaining
soil is also the interest of farmers, whose business ultimately
depends on it.
To view the report - Click
Here
For more information -
- Environment fact sheet - soil
protection - a new policy for the EU
- European Commission Environment - Soil
- Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and
of the Council establishing a framework for the protection
of soil and amending Directive 2004/35/EC - Click
Here
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