Soil Security and the 4 per 1000 initiative: Making Climate Gains Last

Last November marked a major milestone for the International “4 per 1000” Initiative, which celebrated ten years of promoting soil carbon as a tool for climate action, food security, and sustainable development. This is because soil carbon is arguably one of the key soil properties underpinning soil multifunctionality and resilience, helping our planet withstand the impacts of climate change.

How soil quietly stores carbon

Human activities release vast amounts of CO₂ into the atmosphere every year, accelerating climate change. Carbon is sequestered in the soil by plants through photosynthesis and decaying plant and organic matter. Soil organisms such as bacteria, fungi, earthworms, and countless others break down these organic materials and store it into the soil as soil organic carbon (SOC).

This process allows the soil to sustain the wide range of functions and services it provides, including storing more water and mitigating climate change.

Globally, soils store two to three times more carbon than the atmosphere. That makes soil one of the largest carbon reservoirs on Earth.

What does “4 per 1000” actually mean?

The “4 per 1000” initiative is based on a compelling idea: If the amount of carbon stored in the top 30–40 centimetres of the world’s soils increased by just 0.4% per year, it could significantly slow the annual rise of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

This target aims to improve land and soil management in ways that build soil carbon, boost resilience, create jobs, and support sustainable development.

Practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, diversified rotations, organic amendments, and better grazing management can all help build soil carbon and help move in this direction.

But there’s an important catch.

Soil carbon alone isn’t enough

Beyond soil carbon: why soil security matters

Much of the current climate discussion focuses narrowly on soil organic carbon, how much carbon is in the soil and how fast we can increase it.

While SOC is critical, carbon alone does not guarantee ‘healthy’, resilient soils.

Soil Security recognises that the soil is a living system in which the ability to deliver benefits to humanity depends on more than a single soil property. It brings together dimensions of the biophysical with the socioeconomical and legislative aspects that affect the soil.

Together, these dimensions remind us that carbon stored in degraded or poorly managed soils may not last, and that lasting climate solutions depend on soils that function well overall.

To ensure that improvements in soil carbon from initiatives like 4 per 1000 are long lasting, soil security can guide us to fully consider aspects of soil and the influence of society to restore soil functioning to its entirety.

To support the efforts in improving soil carbon through initiatives like 4 per 1000, we also need:

• Policies that recognise soil as a strategic national asset
• Science that looks beyond carbon to soil function and resilience
• Stronger connections between researchers, land managers, advisors, and communities
• Practical support to scale up regenerative practices on the ground

Conclusion: Why this matters to all of us

Soil in good condition don’t just store carbon. They grow our food, filter our water, support nature, and help landscapes cope with droughts and floods. By combining the ambition of the 4 per 1000 initiative with the broader lens of Soil Security, soil carbon gains can be aligned with long-term solutions for more lasting impact.

This blog was developed following a presentation delivered as part of the Soil Carbon Science Webinar Series, Episode 8, titled “Soil Security and the ‘4 per 1000’ Soil Carbon Framework.” A recording of the presentation is available to view at the link below.

SOIL CARBON SCIENCE WEBINAR SERIES #8: Soil Security within the “4 per 1000” Soil Carbon Framework

Related Articles