Sadhguru’s Save Soil movement hosting COP28 discussions

“Soil being alive is the most important thing, because the strength of the soil determines the strength of every life.” – Sadhguru, founder of Save Soil

• Over the course of COP28, the Save Soil movement (supported by UNCCD, UNEP, UNFAO, IUCN and World Food Programme amongst others) will be hosting a series of vital panel discussions and fireside chats with leading experts at its pavilion in the Blue Zone. Location: Save Soil Pavilion TA2-210, First Floor, Blue Zone
• Featuring experts on soil conservation, including representatives from the UNCCD, the international 4per1000 initiative, and World Food Programme, amongst other global bodies, these discussions will focus on the vital importance of healthy and living soils in regard to climate change mitigation, along with its ability to ensure food security, improve biodiversity, sequester three times more carbon than living plants, and abate pollution of various types.
• Save Soil founder Sadhguru will be attending COP for a number of public panel discussions and engagements. More information available below and on request, before public announcement.

Soil is dying. Across the world, 52 per cent of agricultural soil is already degraded. Ninety per cent of the Earth’s topsoil is likely to be at risk by 2050 (UNFAO). Not only would a global food crisis become inevitable, but as soil dies, its potential to sequester carbon dioxide would be lost – whilst releasing a colossal amount of stored emissions into the atmosphere.

Save Soil is a global response to this crisis – and carries the message that soils are not merely a victim, but that healthy and living soils can be a profound solution to climate change. This is, first and foremost, a people’s movement, founded by Sadhguru (and supported by the UNFAO, UNCCD, UNEP, IUCN and World Food Program amongst others), which aims to support governments in establishing long term policies for soil health. In March 2022, at age 65, Sadhguru undertook a 30,000km, 100-day motorcycle journey across 27 countries from London (UK) to southern India to launch the movement.

On his journey, Sadhguru met with leaders and citizens in each country to appeal for national policies and action to increase soil organic matter to a minimum of 3–6 per cent (based on regional conditions), which is the minimum level for soil to be healthy and thriving. His aim was to create public awareness, as it is only with people’s vocal support that nations can effectively implement soil- friendly policies.

The journey became a global media story, and saw Save Soil reach over 4 billion people to date.

Save Soil, with inputs from eminent soil scientists, has created seven specific Soil Policy Handbooks and catalogued sustainable soil management solutions for all 193 nations, that serve as the basis for various policy options for their respective regions (based on their soil type, latitude, climatic zones and other factors).

At COP28, Save Soil aims to bring the message that healthy, living soils are a solution to climate change, further into the international agenda.

Sadhguru

Members of the public can see Save Soil founder Sadhguru at a number of engagements during COP, including ‘The Wake Up Experience’, an event hosted by Impact Nest on World Soil Day in partnership with UNHCR, that will shed light on solutions to the issue of climate-induced migration.

Panel schedule at the Save Soil Pavilion:

Dec 1 (11am-12pm): Soil – Climate Change Solution, not Victim
Dec 2 (11am-12pm): Carbon Farming Collectives: Overcoming Vulnerability
Dec 3 (11am-12pm): Soil, Our Very Body
Dec 4 (10.30-11.30am): Crafting Policies: Easing Farmers’ Access to Carbon Finance Dec 4 (12:00 – 13:00): Investing in Sustainable Soil Management
Dec 5 (9-10.30am): World Soil Day event by 4per1000
Dec 6 (11am-12pm): Mitigating Investment Risk: Sustainable Food Systems
Dec 8 (11am-12pm): Easing Carbon Market access for Farmers
Dec 9 (9-10am): Climate Proofing our Future – the Role of Soil
Dec 9 (11am-12pm): Conscious Livestock Rearing and Soil Health
Dec 10 (11am-12pm): Enabling Technologies: Measuring Soil Carbon

• Savesoil.org
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