A new report released on the sidelines of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém has delivered a stark warning: nearly all soil in Brussels is severely degraded under strict European criteria.
The findings, published by the Aroura Think Tank, the IUCN’s World Commission on Environmental Law, and the Save Soil movement, classify 98% of Brussels’ soil as degraded. Researchers say the situation is far worse than previously believed.
Last year, Brussels Environment analysed 800 sites across the Brussels-Capital Region and found that 40% showed signs of degradation. These included contamination by chemical pollutants, soil compaction, and a sharp decline in organic matter essential for ecosystem health.
But the latest assessment uses tougher EU benchmarks, revealing that decades of urbanisation and soil artificialisation have pushed nearly all of the region’s soil into critical condition.
Experts warn that the issue extends beyond Brussels. The report estimates soil degradation rates of 60% to 70% across Belgium and Europe, far higher than the global average of 20% to 40%.
“The degradation of the soil means it is chronically sick and in need of intensive care,” explained Soil’s Praveena Sridhar. She stressed that healthy soils are essential for biodiversity, food security, and climate mitigation.
Soils also play a key role as carbon sinks. Yet the report notes a troubling trend: poor soil management has turned many soils into net carbon emitters rather than absorbers.
Globally, the economic impact of soil degradation is estimated at $11 billion annually, or around €9.54 billion. The report warns this figure may rise sharply if soil continues to deteriorate.
Alarmingly, 70% of national climate plans submitted under the Paris Agreement fail to address soil management. Despite soil’s proven ability to sequester carbon, it remains largely absent from national climate strategies.
The report urges governments to adopt regenerative agricultural practices, invest in soil-focused land management, and implement widespread public education on soil protection. It emphasises that reversing decades of damage will require systemic change.
Irene Heuser, Chair of the IUCN’s group on Soil Law and Sustainable Agriculture, called for stronger legal frameworks. “We must change the current legal status of soil to secure it for future generations,” she said.
In Belgium, soil concerns have recently gained attention. The Belgian Service for Climate Change highlighted artificialisation and urban sprawl as major environmental obstacles in its latest transition barometer.
The report also notes that climate change has reduced forests’ ability to absorb carbon, further weakening natural carbon sinks at a time when they are most needed.
Environmental groups say Brussels and other European cities must act swiftly. Without immediate intervention, experts warn that degraded soil could undermine food systems, increase flooding, weaken biodiversity, and accelerate carbon emissions.
As COP30 continues in Belém, the authors hope the findings will push soil health higher on the international climate agenda — a critical step toward sustainable land use and a more resilient future.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
