EU Expert Group on Soil Protection. 1 st meeting 19/10/2015. Welcome!

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1 EU Expert Group on Soil Protection 1 st meeting 19/10/2015 Welcome!

2 EU Expert Group on Soil Protection 1 st meeting 19/10/ Introduction 2. Claudia Olazabal Andrea Vettori European Commission, DG ENV B1

3 7th EAP commitment on soil Objective By 2020: "land is managed sustainably in the Union, soil is adequately protected and the remediation of contaminated sites is well underway;" This requires, in particular: "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 decisionmaking involving all relevant levels of government, supported by the adoption of targets on soil and on land as a resource, and land planning objectives; Commitments "The Union and its Member States should reflect as soon as possible on how soil quality issues could be addressed using a targeted and proportionate risk-based approach within a binding legal framework."

4 Objective of this expert group and of the 1st meeting The objective of this expert group: to provide a new permanent channel of communication between Member States and the Commission to implement the soil protection provisions of the 7th EAP. To discuss and agree on the policy baseline, the gap analysis and the need to further act at EU level, paving the way for a further wider consultation process with stakeholders. The objectives for this first meeting are 1) to take stock of recent developments at global, EU and national levels, and 2) to agree on the objectives and modus operandi Modus operandi: Two annual meetings A continuous stream of communication through a collaborative (wiki) web-based platform

5 Agenda of the meeting 9:30-10:00 Registration and Coffee 10:00 1. Introduction by DG ENV on the objectives of the meeting 10:15 2. Adoption of the agenda 10:15 10:45 3. Tour de table introducing participants 10:45 11:15 4. State of play on policy priorities and on-going activities at EU level; objectives of the Expert Group (DG ENV) 5. Discussion of key policy issue Short presentation by DG ENV of each key policy issue identified in the background document, 11:15 followed by a tour de table with contributions by Member States: 12:30 Soil as an ecosystem Prioritisation of soil pressures 12:30 14:00 Lunch 5. Discussion of key policy issue (cont.) 14:00 The level of public intervention for the restoration of historically degraded soil 15:15 The Duty of Care 15:15 15:45 Coffee break 5. Discussion of key policy issue (cont.) 15:45 Avoiding red tape and duplication of existing legislation 17:00 The links with water and climate change policies 17:00 17:30 5. Wrap-up and next steps for the work of the Expert Group 17:30 End of the meeting

6 EU Expert Group on Soil Protection 1 st meeting 19/10/ State of play on policy priorities 2. and on-going activities at EU level 3. Josianne Masson 4. Jacques Delsalle European Commission, DG ENV B1

7 Soil Thematic Strategy: genesis, structure & objectives 4 pillars 2002 Communication "Towards Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, COM(2002)179 6th EAP objective to protect natural resources and promote sustainable use of soil Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection (2006) Awareness raising Legislation Research Integration in other policies Overall objective: protection and sustainable use of soil, based on the following guiding principles: 1. Preventing further soil degradation and preserving its functions: 2. when soil is used and its functions are exploited, action has to be taken on soil use and management patterns, and 3. when soil acts as a sink/receptor of the effects of human activities or environmental phenomena, action has to be taken at source. 4. Restoring degraded soils to a level of functionality consistent at least with current and intended use, thus also considering the cost implications

8 Achievements under the Thematic strategy: awareness raising Public events Conferences: at EU level - Soil Remediation and Soil Sealing, May High Level Conference 'Soil, Climate Change and Biodiversity, September "Climate change: can soil make a difference?", June 2008 Awareness s raising Legislation IYS 2015 EU and MS very active ca 350 events registered Research Integration in other policies Leaflets and brochures, Atlas "Guidelines on best practice to limit, mitigate, compensate soil sealing" and brochure "Hard surfaces, hidden costs" "Soil the hidden part of Climate Change" "Soil biodiversity: the factory of life" Environment factsheets on soil Soil atlas of Europe, Africa, Latin America, European Atlas of Soil Biodiversity (JRC) WG Awareness Raising and Education (European Soil Bureau ESBN) - ELSA

9 Achievements under the Thematic strategy research and monitoring Awareness raising Research EU-funded research projects FP6, FP7 Horizon 2020 LIFE/LIFE+: 147 projects on Soil Protection Legislation Integration in other policies Monitoring soil data collection A lot of soil data at national level JRC European Soil Data Centre LUCAS database - >20,000 soil samples collected in and analysed (physicochemicals properties, Heavy Metals) - New campaign in 2015 Land cover/land use monitoring: Corine, Copernicus -> However lack of systematic monitoring system accross EU

10 Achievements under the Thematic strategy Integration Awareness raising Research Water Framework Directive Legislation Integration Integration in other policies Research Nitrate Directive Agriculture Waste Sewage sludge Directive Soils Regional policy urban sustainable development Forestry Environme ntal Liability Directive ELD : EUR 3.4 billion for the rehabilitation of industrial sites and contaminated land areas Regional policy ERDF Biodiversit y Strategy IPCC

11 Awareness raising Research SFD and lessons learned Legislation Integration Integration in other policies SFD proposal withdrawn by the Commission in May 2014 after 8 years of negotiations and blocking minority of 5 MS in the Council (OJ C 153, , p.3) The Commission remains fully committed to the objective of soil protection and would examine how to best achieve this. Any further initiative in this respect would however have to be considered by the next college. (OJ C 163, , p.15) Key issues Sustainability principle Soil not recognized as Common good Private ownership Ambitious - encompassing all soil threats in different contexts Contamination flexible but perceived as too prescriptive issue of orphan sites and costs Farmers' concerns articulation with CAP

12 International developments Soils gained momentum at global level: UN GA set up the Global Soil Partnership in Voluntary Partenership >400 organisations private/public/ngos/research - GSP Secretary hosted by FAO - 5 Pillars of action: promote sustainable soil management, education & awareness, research, information and harmonisation - Rely on Regional Soil Partnership - European Soil Partnership incl. MS and European Commission - Countries nominated their National focal points 2015 declared as the International Year of Soils 5 December declared as World Soil Day Agenda to 2030 Sustainable Development 4 SDGs mentioning soils UNCCD activities on Land Degradation Neutrality New report - Economics of Land Degradation COP21: soil carbon & climate change adaptation

13 SOER 2015 The ability of soil to deliver ecosystem services in terms of food production, as biodiversity pools and as a regulator of gasses, water and nutrients is under increasing pressure. Observed rates of soil sealing, erosion, contamination and decline in organic matter all reduce soil capability. Organic carbon stocks in agricultural soil may have been overestimated by 25%. A coherent soil policy at EU level would provide the framework to coordinate efforts to survey soil status adequately.

14 Soil in the Sustainable Development Goals (United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015, 25 September) SDG Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. SDG Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Target 3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. SDG Goal 15: Sustainably manage forest, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss. Target 15.3 By 2020, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land-degradation-neutral world "All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan.

15 Links between soil and political priorities of the Commission: A New Boost for Jobs, Growth and Investment": Preserving the provisioning services from soil and reducing the costs from soil degradation and the use of inputs (energy, mineral fertilizers, crop protection products) enable a successful move to Circular Economy. A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy : the link with soil is manifold: Urban sprawl and loss of fertile soils trigger increased transport and energy costs; halting and reverting soil degradation is needed for both climate change mitigation (soil carbon storage) and adaptation (soil water retention) policies; A Stronger Global Actor, the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the UN General Assembly this autumn will put demands on the Union to demonstrate its full commitment to the universal implementation of the agenda, including soil-related targets

16 Service contract on inventory policy instruments: objectives Deliver a critical analysis of the efficiency of soil related policies and measures at EU or Member State level, including those not specifically aiming at soil protection. Collect information assessing the effectiveness of soil legislation and soil protection measures at Member State and EU level on the state of soil. Perform a cross-policy analysis identifying the efficiency and gaps of EU policies and national legislation in addressing the soil threats and soil functions. Provide recommendations for EU actions and to stimulate a discussion with experts from Member States and stakeholders. The outcome shall support the baseline for any further proposal for action at EU level, taking fully into account the proportionality and subsidiarity principles.

17 Service contract on inventory policy instruments: timing, steering by EG 10-months contract (to be signed later this year), open call for tender ENV.B.1/SER/2015/0022 By month 3: Inventory of policy instruments at EU and national level and compilation in a web collaborative platform By month 6: Gap analysis of policy instruments Continuous consultation of Member States and Stakeholders and further update of the inventory/gap analysis Interaction with MS competent authorities and stakeholders at national level, also exploiting existing networks such as EIONET Ad-hoc meetings to discuss findings of tasks 1 and 2 Final workshop in Brussels with MS experts and stakeholders (could be back to back with 3 rd meeting of this Expert Group)

18 Mapping and assessment of soil-related ecosystem services (MAES-Soil pilot) Background: EU Biodiversity Strategy Co-lead by Belgium and DG ENV Open to all MS who want to contribute Outputs 2015: Policy Brief Description key soil ecosystem services & interactions Relevant indicators Knowledge and policy-relevant conclusions Inventory of indicators Template (wiki) Link to available datasets Supply and demand Development of a network of practitioners (link with EU research project LANDMARK)

19 EU Expert Group on Soil Protection 1 st meeting 19/10/ Discussion of key policy issues

20 Discussion slot #1 Soil as an ecosystem / prioritisation of pressures Background: The STS was already based on the ecosystem services approach as the whole aim of the policy was to preserve as many of soil functions as possible. Recent and further methodological developments in the context of the Biodiversity Strategy (MAES-Soil pilot). Question for discussion: How to strengthen the ecosystem dimension of soils in any new initiative? Background: There could be a merit in concentrating our discussions for a new initiative on most widely spread and more pressing threats, taking into account also the legislative gaps. In addition the inter-linkages should be considered rather than tackling each soil threat separately. Question for discussion Should a potential initiative prioritise on a limited number of soil threats for the time being? If yes, which priority soil threats should that be?

21 Discussion slot #2 Public intervention on degraded soils / the duty of care Background: Different approaches across MS, from strong public intervention (coupled with public funding) for restoring degraded soils caused by past activities, to purely privately driven restoration of soil Question for discussion What the minimum level of public intervention is necessary to secure a high level of environmental (and health) protection? Background Striking the right balance between the duty of care of the owner, and the public/social responsibility is at the heart of any soil policy development. Question for discussion How to balance the duty of care of the soil owners versus the public responsibility to secure the provision of key soil ecosystem services?

22 Discussion slot #3 Duplication/links with other policies Background Currently soil protection policy in the vast majority of MSs is done in the context of the development of policies and regulations in fields that do not have soil protection and a sustainable use of soil as their primary concern On-going inventory of policies and measures at EU, Member State and - where applicable - regional level, contributing (directly or indirectly) to soil protection Question for discussion How could a new EU initiative on soil ensure that the current policy vacuum on soil is overcome and thus achieve better coordination of national and regional efforts in other policy fields? Background Despite recent developments, the crucial role of soil for the water and carbon cycle is still not acknowledged to the extent necessary. Without sound soil management any water and climate related policies will be limited and as such less efficient. Question for discussion How could a new initiative on soil make stronger links and better reflect the evolution of water and climate policies?

23 EU Expert Group on Soil Protection 1 st meeting 19/10/ Wrap-up

24 Preliminary wrap up (1/3) On Ecosystem services approach MAES-Soil pilot useful i.e. to precise terminology, condition for provision of services and impact on policies/societal challenges Potential contribution from numerous MS. State of knowledge may restrict the scope of potential policy instruments On Prioritization To be based on objective criteria (e.g. reversibility, measurability, EUwide issue, availability policy response, etc.) To be based on an accurate picture of the policy baseline. Avoid duplications, provide a customized response. Need to revisit the list of threats provided in the background document Ecosystem based approach: focus on threats become less relevant?

25 Preliminary wrap up (2/3) National frameworks on duty-of-care/liability to be taken into account in inventory of policy instruments Limits to polluter-pays-principle but also for public intervention (resource constraint) «The duty to inform»: before any action, need for a solid knowledge base Need for action at EU level may be triggered by competition issues: level playing field standard framework for monitoring

26 Preliminary wrap up (3/3) Broad agreement with step-by-step approach Inventory of policy instruments to be the basis for gap analysis: need for a precise picture of how existing instruments are implemented Identification of options to act at EU level, under better regulation principles (added value) Customized instruments a single framework? Awareness raising and knowledge sharing Ecosystem-based approach => Improve coherence other policies Take advantage of this network e.g. to exchange best practices JRC soil data centre can help in improving knowledge base

27 Next steps: Please send any additional contribution on key policy issues by 23/10 Draft minutes of the discussion to be sent by 30/10 Please provide comments by 20/11 Next meetings: 25/04/2016 and 17/10/2016 (date still to be confirmed), in Brussels CircABC group for provision of background documents to be made available this week (access with ECAS password) Wiki for continuous and enhanced channel of communication to be set up in the first months of 2016 (as output of the support contract, as soon as task 1 is completed)

28 Thank you for your participation!