Improving International Soil Governance – Analysis and Recommendations Final Report
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TEXTE 75 /2020 Improving international soil governance – Analysis and recommendations Final Report TEXTE 75/2020 Environmental Research of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Project No. (FKZ) 3716 71 210 0 Report No. FB000124/ENG Improving international soil governance – Analysis and recommendations Final Report by Dr. Ralph Bodle, Dr. Heidi Stockhaus Ecologic Institute gemeinnützige GmbH In cooperation with Franziska Wolff, Cara-Sophie Scherf Öko Institut e.V. and Prof. Dr. Sebastian Oberthür Institute for European Studies, Vrije Universiteit Brussel On behalf of the German Environment Agency Imprint Publisher: Umweltbundesamt Wörlitzer Platz 1 06844 Dessau-Roßlau Tel: +49 340-2103-0 Fax: +49 340-2103-2285 [email protected] Internet: www.umweltbundesamt.de /umweltbundesamt.de /umweltbundesamt Study performed by: Ecologic Institute Pfalzburger Straße 43/44 10717 Berlin Öko-Institut Schicklerstraße 5-7 10179 Berlin Study completed in: May 2019 Edited by: Section II 2.1 General Water and Soil Aspects Dr. Harald Ginzky Publication as pdf: http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen ISSN 1862-4804 Dessau-Roßlau, June 2020 The responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the author(s). Improving international soil governance - Analysis and recommendations (3716 71 210 0) Abstract This study develops options for the German government to improve international soil governance in the short, medium and long term. The study first takes stock of existing international instruments and institutions that are relevant for soil protection and its governance at the international level. It as- sesses the actual and potential steering effect of, inter alia, the Desertification Convention, the Biodi- versity Convention, the Paris Agreement and climate regime, regional treaties, FAO, UNEP, IPBES and IPCC. At present, the Sustainable Development Goals and in particular the “land degradation neutral- ity” target have established a global political reference point. But there are almost no binding obliga- tions for all states specifically regarding soil. Current governance of soil at the international level is piecemeal and spread over parts of different mandates. There is significant overlap of mandates and activities of relevant institutions, each of which has limitations. While a certain degree of a rudimen- tary division of labour is emerging, there is scope and a need for improvement. The study develops op- tions for improving international soil governance with regard to overarching issues, new treaty or in- stitutions, improving existing governance, means of implementation and enhancing co-ordination and coherence. Kurzbeschreibung Die Studie entwickelt Optionen für die Bundesregierung, internationale Bodengovernance kurz-, mit- tel- und langfristig zu verbessern. Sie beginnt mit einer Bestandsaufnahme bestehender internationa- ler Instrumente und Institutionen, die für Bodenschutzgovernance auf internationaler Ebene relevant sind. Sie bewertet die tatsächliche und potentielle Steuerungswirkung u.a. der Wüstenkonvention, der Biodiversitätskonvention, des Pariser Klimabkommens und des Klimaregimes, regionaler Abkommen, der FAO, von UNEP, IPBES und des IPCC. Gegenwärtig haben die Nachhaltigen Entwicklungsziele und insbesondere das Ziel "land degradation neutrality" einen globalen Referenzpunkt für Bodenpolitik geschaffen. Es gibt aber fast keine verbindlichen Verpflichtungen für alle Staaten speziell zum Boden- schutz. Die derzeitige Governance für Boden auf internationaler Ebene ist fragmentiert und über ver- schiedene Mandate verteilt. Es gibt erhebliche Überschneidungen bei den Mandaten und Tätigkeiten der relevanten Institutionen, während gleichzeitig jede von ihnen Einschränkungen aufweist. Zwar zeichnet sich eine gewisse rudimentäre Arbeitsteilung ab, es ist aber erforderlich, diese weiter voran- zutreiben. Die Studie entwickelt Optionen, internationale Bodengovernance zu verbessern, in den Be- reichen übergreifende Themen, neue Rechtspflichten oder Institutionen, Verbesserung bestehender Governance, Mittel zur Umsetzung, und bessere Koordination und Kohärenz. 3 Improving international soil governance - Analysis and recommendations (3716 71 210 0) Table of Contents List of Figures .................................................................................................................................................... 8 List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 List of Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................................... 10 Summary ......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Zusammenfassung .......................................................................................................................................... 23 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 34 1.1 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 34 1.2 Objective and approach ................................................................................................................. 35 2 Stocktake of existing international soil governance ............................................................................. 37 2.1 Sustainable Development Goals .................................................................................................... 37 2.1.1 Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 37 2.1.1.1 Scope of application 38 2.1.1.2 Institutions 38 2.1.1.3 Practice 39 2.1.2 Assessment and opportunities ................................................................................................ 39 2.1.3 Potential avenues for action .................................................................................................... 39 2.2 UN Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) .......................................................................... 40 2.2.1 Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 40 2.2.1.1 Scope of application 40 2.2.1.2 Core obligations 42 2.2.1.3 Institutions 45 2.2.1.4 Practice 45 2.2.2 Assessment and opportunities ................................................................................................ 50 2.2.3 Potential avenues for action .................................................................................................... 52 2.3 UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) ................................................................................ 54 2.3.1 Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 54 2.3.1.1 Scope of application 55 2.3.1.2 Core obligations 56 2.3.1.3 Institutions 56 2.3.1.4 Practice 57 2.3.2 Assessment and opportunities ................................................................................................ 64 2.3.3 Potential avenues for action .................................................................................................... 64 2.4 Paris Agreement and climate regime ............................................................................................. 65 2.4.1 Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 65 4 Improving international soil governance - Analysis and recommendations (3716 71 210 0) 2.4.1.1 Scope of application 65 2.4.1.2 Core obligations 66 2.4.1.3 Institutions 70 2.4.1.4 Practice 70 2.4.2 Assessment and opportunities ................................................................................................ 71 2.4.3 Potential avenues for action .................................................................................................... 72 2.5 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands ................................................................................................... 73 2.5.1 Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 73 2.5.1.1 Scope of application 73 2.5.1.2 Core obligations 74 2.5.1.3 Institutions 75 2.5.1.4 Practice 76 2.5.2 Assessment and opportunities ................................................................................................ 77 2.5.3 Potential avenues for action .................................................................................................... 78 2.6 Soil Conservation Protocol to the Alpine Convention .................................................................... 78 2.6.1 Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 78 2.6.1.1 Scope of application 79 2.6.1.2 Core obligations 79 2.6.1.3 Institutions 81 2.6.1.4 Practice 82 2.6.2 Assessment and opportunities ................................................................................................ 82 2.6.3