Climate, environment and circular economy

Soils store carbon in the form of organic matter and release it as gas into the atmosphere, primarily in the form of CO2. When they store more than they release, they act as so-called “carbon sinks“. Therefore, soils can play a role in climate change mitigation strategies. Europe, spearheaded by France with its Low-Carbon label, encourages agricultural and forestry strategies promoting carbon storage in soils.

Water resources are becoming scarcer as they come under increased human and climate pressure. Over-use, drought, pollution and eutrophication* are complicating management of the domestic water cycle, including in Europe, where one third of the territory is exposed to high water stress.