European environmental organisations have backed a fresh call for a European soil framework directive following a report which says deterioration of soil is costing Europe up to €38bn each year.
A conference titled "Yes to a European Soil Directive" discussed the new report Soil: Worth Standing Your Ground For published by the European Environmental Bureau and German group DNR.
The report says opponents of a directive, which includes the UK, believe it would cost a great deal but it argues that non-implementation will actually cost Europe much more.
It says it is actually more costly to do nothing because a Europe-wide preventative policy would avoid new pollution, minimize remediation costs and benefit European specialist companies who can export their technologies and know-how.
The report says Europe has around three million contaminated sites and that investigation and remediation are patchy in many countries.
It also makes a strong case for action on soil sealing - the other source of UK opposition - and says 9% of Europe's soils have already been sealed and, in Germany alone, 100ha are sealed each day.
During the 1990s the sealed area in the EU-15 increased by 6%.
"We are paving over valuable agricultural soils for cities and roads, squeezing it out through intensive agriculture and polluting it in industrial accidents," said Sarolta Tripolszky of the EEB.
"The very basis of everything we depend on is slowly eroding beneath our feet, and it's time for action to put a stop to this."
Soil is the second largest carbon store on Earth, after the oceans, but soil carbon is declining in much of Europe and is very scarce in 45% of its soils.
The report argues it would be more costly not to have a directive as degradation is already costing €38bn/y and food security is threatened.
Countries with soil protection regimes fear increased bureaucracy - but they would also enjoy a competitive advantage over those that would need to introduce one, it says.
A directive would only intervene where action is needed and subsidiarity is no excuse for lack of solidarity.
"In times of climate risk and growing world population soil becomes an increasingly important resource for food production and to maintain public health," says the EEB.
"Soil is also an invaluable asset in the fight against climate change."
