Largest Carbon Savings Land, Potentially Disrupts Global Economic Stability

JAKARTA The latest report released at the COP30 Climate Change Conference reveals findings that can change the direction of global environmental economic policy.

The land is recorded as the largest carbon absorber on land, even surpassing forests, but still minimally entering the world's climate agenda.

The report compiled by Aoura Soil Security Think Tank, IUCN-WCEL, and Save Soil shows that the top layer of the soil (topsoil) stores 2,822 carbon gigatons, or 45 percent higher than the previous estimate. This finding makes the soil a strategic component in the global carbon economy.

With sustainable management, the soil has a capacity to absorb 3.38 billion tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to 27 percent of the global emission absorption target.

This figure shows the huge potential of land as a carbon market instrument, which can open up new investment opportunities for developing countries.

However, 70 percent of COP30 participating countries have not included land restoration in the national climate commitment (NDC).

This condition shows a 'blind spot' in the global climate policy design, which could hinder the formation of soil economic value in the long term.

Land is not just dust. It is the life skin of this planet,' said Praveena Sridhar, CTO Save Soil, emphasizing the importance of including soil in the framework of the climate economy.

The report warns 40 percent of Earth's land has been degraded, and could potentially rise to 90 percent by 2050 if there is no intervention.

This condition can trigger the release of 4.81 billion tons of CO2 per year, adding to economic pressure due to the food crisis, supply chain disruption, and increasing climate adaptation costs.

In Indonesia, 17 percent of land has been degraded based on UNCCD data. The impact will be felt immediately on the increasing productivity of agriculture, food security, and climate mitigation costs.

The potential for soil to absorb carbon, maintain water, and support food production places the economic value of land ecosystem services at 11 trillion US dollars per year.

However, until now there has been no international legal instrument to protect land, in contrast to the sea or the atmosphere.

IUCN mendorong pembentukan instrumen hukum global melalui Resolusi 007 untuk memperkuat Soil Security Framework yang mencakup lima pilar: capacity, condition, connectivity, capital, dan codification.

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IUCN is pushing for the formation of global legal instruments through the 007 Resolution to strengthen the Soil Security Framework which includes five pillars: capacity, condition, connectivity, capital, and codification.

Land restoration is said to be the key to climate stability and the global economy in the next few decades, ranging from increasing food productivity, maintaining water availability, to strengthening the country's capacity in the carbon economy.

"We will not be able to face the climate crisis if we continue to ignore the land," Praveena concluded.