Towards Zero pollution: Launch of the Global Assessment of Soil Pollution report
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
04/06/2021
Towards Zero pollution: Launch of the Global Assessment of Soil Pollution report
Opening Speech by
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
Friday 4 June 2021
Honorable Vice-President,
Ms Inger Anderson, Executive Secretary of UNEP,
Distinguished Guests,
1. Welcome to the Launch of the Global Assessment of Soil Pollution report. Soil health is fundamental issue for planet health.
2. Soil pollution jeopardizes crop yields, dietary nutrition, food safety, rural incomes, human health and the health of our ecosystem.
3. Soil protection is of the utmost importance to ensure the success of our future agri-food systems, ecosystem restoration and all lives on earth.
4. As revealed in this report, industrial and mining activities, urban and industrial waste, and unsustainable agricultural practices, are the main sources of soil pollution.
5. With rapid population growth and urbanization, annual waste is projected to increase to 3.4 billion tonnes in 2050.
6. The use of plastics in agriculture has also increased greatly in recent decades representing a significant source of soil and environmental pollution.
7. About 80% of marine pollution comes from land-based activities.
8. Erosion of polluted soils contributes to the excessive loading of plastics, nutrients and organic chemicals into lakes, rivers and sea.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
9. All these hard facts from the report should push us to act – now.
10. Our society wants more nutritious and safe foods, free of contaminants and pathogens!
11. That is reflected in our work how to transform our agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
12. We must address soil fertility, soil biodiversity and soil pollution, to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
13. Bringing together science and policy to understand the status, causes, impacts and solutions to soil pollution is crucial.
14. Today's Global Status Report on Soil Pollution responds to the UN Environment Assembly’s Resolution “Managing soil pollution to achieve sustainable development”.
15. It is the result of an inclusive process with scientists from around the world, consolidating the science behind soil pollution and proposing concrete actions.
16. I am hopeful that the findings of this report will pave the way for joint efforts to stop soil pollution and build up coherent solutions for soil recovery.
Distinguished Participants,
17. Boosting soil health and preventing soil pollution must be part of international agendas.
18. This includes the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, as well as the upcoming UN Conferences on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Desertification and the UN Food Systems Summit.
19. Together, we can make healthy soils for all and for long.
20. Thank you!