The role of soils in the regulation of air quality

Abstract

Soils play a key role in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this study, we review the contribution of soils to the regulation of air quality, which is one of ‘Nature's Contributions to People’ identified by the Intergovernmental-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). This is particularly relevant for SDG3 (health and well-being) and 11 (sustainable cities and well-being) but also impacts other SDGs. Soils can act as both a source and a sink of air pollutants (and their precursors). In addition, soils support plant growth which plays a major role in regulating air quality. The scale of the soil impacts on air quality range from global (e.g. greenhouse gas fluxes, stratospheric ozone depletion) to local (e.g. odours, particulates, pathogen transport). Harmful emissions from soil can be increased or decreased by anthropogenic activity, while climate change is likely to modify future emissions patterns, both directly and in response to human mitigation and adaption actions. Although soils are not the only source of these pollutants, it is worthwhile managing them to reduce erosion and nutrient losses to maintain soil health so we may continue to benefit from the contributions to good quality of life they provide. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The role of soils in delivering Nature's Contributions to People’.

Soil-derived Nature's Contributions to People and their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

“…Each paper in this issue [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] has presented evidence for the contribution of soils to NCP. Table 5 summarizes the potential positive, negative and context-specific contributions of soils to NCP arising from these papers.…”

“…Previous studies have examined the role of soils in contributing to ecosystem services, showing that soils have a decisive and positive contribution to many [1][2][3][4][5]. Other papers in this special issue [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] have considered each ecosystem service in turn, classified according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Nature's Contributions to People (NCP, [21,22]), thus providing the most comprehensive treatment to date of the role of soils in delivering NCP. Other studies have examined the role of soils in contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, [23][24][25][26]), arguing that soils also play a vital role in delivering the SDGs.…”

“…Like Keesstra et al [27], Smith et al [29] first considered the functions provided by the soils and mapped these to NCP, with the delivery of these NCP then mapped on to the delivery of the SDGs. We use a similar approach here, drawing on the extensive analysis presented in the other papers presented in this issue [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], to examine the role of soils in contributing, positively or negatively, to the UN SDGs.…”

The role of soils in the regulation of hazards and extreme events

“…Simultaneously, this process increases and diversifies farmer's incomes, job opportunities and community economic development, leading to the development of a circular economy with a reduced environmental footprint [111]. In addition, healthy soils managed through sustainable practices contribute to a reduction in mental and physical health hazards by regulating air quality, ensuring protection against water contamination, producing enzymes and organisms for medicinal purposes and providing positive physical and psychological experiences [112][113][114][115][116].…”

The role of soils in delivering Nature's Contributions to People

“…The role of soils in the regulation of air quality is reviewed by Giltrap et al [23]. They note that soil has a key role to play in meeting the UN SDGs and describe how soils can act as both a source and a sink of air pollutants (and precursors to air pollutants).…”