New report warns Soil health will be the missing solution in Global Climate Change mitigation at COP 30
At the COP30 summit, a new report released on 10th November 2025 from the UNEP, IUCN, WFP, and FAO backed Save Soil campaign, unearths critical gaps on soil and agriculture in the majority of nations’ National Determined Contributions (NDCs) – a country’s climate action plan submitted under the Paris Agreement.
Titled “Solution Instead of Victim: Integrating Soil Health into Nationally Determined
Contributions (NDCs) for Climate Change Mitigation”, the report’s key finding is that over 70% of nations do not feature soil as a climate change mitigation tool in their NDCs. This is a shocking and critical gap, as soil’s potential as a carbon sink has long been documented and recognised, making this omission all the more stark. In 2021, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation outlined that soils were the world’s largest carbon sink after oceans.
Outlining the vast carbon sequestration potential of soils, the report’s findings reveal that:
• Up to 27% of emission cuts needed to keep global warming below a 2°C rise could be achieved and sequestered by restoring agricultural soil health.
• The world’s soils hold 45% more carbon than previously estimated.
• Revitalising soil health through regenerative practices can reduce fertilizer-related
emissions by as much as 80% by 2050.
Australia has not submitted their third NDC. Their second NDC, submitted in September 2025, outlines strong commitments to ecosystem restoration and biodiversity, yet lacks measurable soil-carbon or soil-health targets. Given its vast agricultural lands, including soil indicators in its future climate reporting would enhance transparency and highlight agriculture’s mitigation role.
Agriculture, accounting for almost 30% of global GHG emissions, also has the potential to become a significant source of carbon capture. This, however, remains unacknowledged in the NDCs which primarily consider transformation of energy and transport sectors as mitigation solutions. Countries include agriculture and soil only in their adaptation plans, and not invest in soils as a solution for climate change.
Conversely, degrading soils act as carbon emitters. The report outlines if just 1% of carbon contained in Europe’s soils alone were to be released, would be equal to the annual emissions of 1 billion cars. Globally, 40% of the planet’s land is degraded.
Praveena Sridhar, Chief Scientific and Policy Advisor of the Save Soil Movement commented on the situation: “The world has a 45% larger-than-expected carbon bank right under its feet, yet our current climate mitigation plans largely fail to treat soil health as the powerful, cost-effective climate solution it is. We urge policymakers to immediately prioritize soil health through regenerative agricultural practices as part of their climate mitigation and financing strategies.
These can include simple practices such as cover cropping, no-till farming and crop rotation.”
According to recent review-reports from the British Ecological Society (2025) and World Bank (2024), regenerative agriculture techniques such as year-round ground cover, diverse rotations and integrated livestock show strong evidence of improving soil structure, organic matter content and biological activity – all key indicators of soil health
“Having been a regenerative farmer for over 25 years, and having supported tens of thousands of farmers in their transition to regenerative practices, I’ve consistently observed that soil health improves dramatically with the adoption of these techniques. This leads to higher productivity, reduced chemical use, and greater resilience. The same practices that restore our soils also store carbon — turning farms into part of the climate solution.”
_______
About Save Soil
Save Soil is a global people’s movement launched by Conscious Planet to address the rapid degradation of agricultural soils. Over the last three decades, Save Soil has implemented a holistic strategy for soil revitalization through scalable farmer-driven projects, policy advocacy, and citizen awareness campaigns. The movement is working with a number of governments across the globe to shape soil policies, and is supporting over 250,000 farmers in India to transition to various other regenerative agricultural practices including tree based agriculture (often referred to as agroforestry). Save Soil is backed by the UN Environment Program, UN Food and Agricultural Organisation, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, World Food Program, and IUCN amongst others.
—Amod Datar
Save Soil Campaign
देवभूमि उत्तराखंड की निर्मल वादियों में आयोजित तीन दिवसीय (विशेष अंतरराष्ट्रीय सत्र सहितत्रि दिवसीय) “स्पर्श हिमालय महोत्सव – 2025” ने साहित्य, संस्कृति और वैश्विक भारतीयता की ऐसी गूंज उत्पन्न की, जिसने न केवल भारत को बल्कि विश्वभर के प्रवासी मनों को एक सूत्र में बाँध दिया। यह आयोजन पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री स्वर्गीय अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी के “लेखक गांव” के स्वप्न को साकार करने की दिशा में एक प्रखर कदम रहा, जिसका संरक्षण पूर्व केंद्रीय शिक्षा मंत्री एवं उत्तराखंड के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री डॉ. रमेश पोखरियाल ‘निशंक’ ने किया।
मुख्य अतिथियों के उद्बोधन — हिमालय का गौरव
चतुर्थ दिवस : वैश्विक सहभागिता का दिव्य समागम
BRISBANE, QLD – The cultural landscape was illuminated on the evening of November 8, 2025, by the spectacular musical showcase, GEET AUR GHAZAL. The event, a vibrant celebration of classic songs and soulful ghazals, was orchestrated by the dedicated Sangeet Premi Club Inc and led by the charismatic Yousuf Alikhan. The performance drew a full house of eager music lovers, delivering a night that has been universally hailed as a resounding success.
From the moment the first note sounded, the atmosphere was charged with an infectious energy and artistic brilliance. The talented lineup of singers and musicians transported the audience on an emotional journey through the rich tapestry of South Asian music.
“Enjoyed it thoroughly, will come again.” “All singers and musicians did an excellent job.” “Wonderful evening.” “We need more of these kinds of events.”The sentiment was clear: GEET AUR GHAZAL transcended a mere concert, becoming a communal celebration of shared passion for melody and meaning.
The success of the evening is a testament to the exceptional talent showcased on stage.
It’s very hard to construct the profile of a donor to Life Global Australia. Occupation is highly variable: from businesswoman to yoga instructor, from copy writer to computer analyst, from psychologist to IT consultant, and from student to retiree. As a result, income is widely varied. Likewise, age is not a defining characteristic: some are over 70, some as young as 12. There are, however, some common factors: all are Australian, all are conscious of being in a position of privilege, and all see that privilege as an opportunity.
Several LifeGA donors are members of the ex-pat Indian community in Australia. In its nascent days, some learned of the charity directly through its founder, Dr Dipti McGowan.
Like her friend, Dr McGowan, Ms Jajee grew up in a family that believed in helping others.
Ms Gorasia was impressed by the extent of the programme, which reaches out to impoverished women, often in remote areas, and provides skill development and personal advancement. The women are educated and given the opportunity to start their own enterprises in various trades such as sewing, embroidery, catering, beauty and computer operations. Further than that, though, they are given training in self defence, gender equality, banking, budgeting and finance.
“Donating to LifeGA is an opportunity for us to help families become independent and for me to ¬¬¬¬-set an example for my daughters that, when we can, we should help other women. It is important to me that women can be self-reliant. I have had the privilege of being independent since finishing my studies and I know what living life with confidence feels like.”
The Basava Samiti Chapter hosted a vibrant and inspiring public speaking competition on 8 November, drawing a diverse group of young participants from across the community for an evening dedicated to confident communication, cultural reflection and value-based expression.
Audience members praised the high calibre of speeches, noting the strong organisation, clarity and composure shown by the speakers. These contestants incorporated personal anecdotes to demonstrate how Basava’s teachings continue to inspire decision-making in modern life, giving their speeches a sense of authenticity and emotional depth that resonated with the audience.
The event drew a warm and supportive crowd of families and community members, who applauded each speaker and fostered an encouraging atmosphere for both new and experienced participants. In keeping with the Charity’s inclusive approach, every speaker received appreciation, acknowledging their effort and courage. Every performer was also recognised for outstanding content, delivery and confidence, reflecting the event’s emphasis on both skill and substance.
It’s hard to believe that the New Year is just four weeks away. It always seems to arrive so quickly! I really enjoy this season, from Christmas festivities to end-of-year gatherings, and reconnecting with people we don’t see often. Still, amid all the celebrations, I find myself thinking of those going through tough times. The holidays can be particularly challenging for families dealing with financial stress, health issues, mental health struggles, or complicated family dynamics. Remember to take care of yourself, and consider reaching out to those around you. Even a small act of kindness can make a big difference.
I’d like to express my appreciation to the Deo family and our Brisbane Indian Times team for making this past year so memorable. Together, we’ve worked to keep the paper focused on the topics that matter most to you. I’m especially thankful for the readers who shared their thoughts on the upcoming social media laws and what they might mean for families.
In a related story by Sam Buckingham-Jones Media and marketing reporter in the Financial Review on November 26th, 2025, a constitutional challenge has already been filed against the law by two teenagers, Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, through the Digital Freedom Project. The case argues that raising the minimum age for social media use from 13 to 16 infringes on teenagers’ constitutional rights to freedom of political communication. I’ll be watching this closely and reporting updates as they happen next year.
Some parents are concerned about the extra personal information their children may need to provide, while some young people see the government as overreaching, stepping into the role of parents or caregivers making being a parent more difficult as it will be harder for them to monitor what their children are seeing.
I chose instead to focus on grassroots community work, reading the paper and writing for – of course, the Brisbane Indian Times. Helping people directly and having meaningful conversations is the best way to know what is really happening on the ground. I prefer hearing firsthand from readers about their experiences—the good, the bad, and the challenging—so that together we can work toward solutions and truth.
In November, the Inala Lions Club hosted its inaugural trivia night—a lively evening full of laughter, friendly competition, and community spirit. It was wonderful to see so many friends and locals come together to support the club’s important work. A big thank you to Grill’d Mt Ommaney for supporting the event and providing the perfect venue. We raised much important funds to serve those who need a smile and helping hand.
This free event at Community Life Uniting Church supports families experiencing hardship, offering children’s gifts, activities, a festive photo booth, food and drinks, face painting, a Christmas hamper for each family, and a delicious lunch sponsored by Nando’s.
