Soils, Nature and the Climate Emergency

OU Associate Lecturer, Dr Clive Mitchell, recently had two articles published in British Soil Science Society blog and The Herald on Soils, Nature and the Climate Emergency.

Dr Mitchell’s articles detail how the misuse of soil is a large contributor to harmful emissions, due to the systematic degradation of such ecosystems. This degradation occurs when systems are altered or engineered to become less biodiverse and therefore lose their resilience and ability to capture carbon. Monocultures (for agriculture) and the drainage of wet carbon-rich soils are two such ways that damage an ecosystem, meaning there is a balance to find between soil sustainability and their productive capacity.

The articles were published ahead of The World Congress of Soil Science which was held July 31 to August 5 at the SEC in Glasgow. Nature Scot, where Dr Mitchell is Strategic Resource Manager, sponsored the event, which saw around 1600 scientists attend to discuss soil-related issues. Dr Mitchell chaired events at The Congress, including a session on Policy Programme, which was the first time that the Congress has ventured into this space – a departure from pure focus on soil science. Dr Mitchel and others working in this area are keen to bring soil into the spotlight due to the vital need to improve soil health, increase biodiversity and sequester carbon in order to reach net zero.