On Tuesday 22 October, the European Commission published the 2024 report on the state of Europe’s soils. The report, which is the result of collaboration between the Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the European Environment Agency, notes that soil degradation has worsened in recent years and stresses the need for immediate action.
Soil erosion in the EU as a whole is estimated at around one billion tonnes per year. Water erosion, the most widespread type of erosion, could even increase by 13 to 25% by 2050, according to the report’s projections. It already affects 24% of EU soils and 32% of agricultural soils.
The European Commission points out that combating soil degradation will help to achieve the EU’s environmental, agricultural and climate objectives, with the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 aiming in particular to achieve healthy soil by 2050. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)