Globalizing environmental sustainability: “2015 international year of soil” transitioning to “2015-2024 international decade of soil”

Abstract

The International Union of Soil Science (IUSS), a global organization established in 1924, is a link to the world’s 60,000 soil scientists. The IUSS has been proactive in celebrating 2015 International Year of Soil (2015 IYS), and has declared 2015-2024 as the International Decade of Soil (2015-2024 IDS). Objectives of both IYS and IDS are to: enhance awareness of civil society and policymakers regarding the importance of soils to human wellbeing and nature conservancy, and promote effective policies and action for sustainable management and protection of soil resources. These initiatives are also in accord with the Sustainable Development Goals of the U.N. or the so-called "Agenda 2030." Among numerous priorities of IUSS are restoring degraded soils and minimizing risks of new degradation through implementation of soil protection policies. IUSS also supports the "4 per Thousand" initiative, proposed at COP21 (Paris) and COP22 (Marrakech), of sequestering C in world soils. The IUSS organizes the World Soil Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) once every four years. The WCSS was organized in Jeju, Korea in 2014 and will be organized in Rio, Brazil in 2018 and Glasgow, Scotland in 2022. During 2015-2024 IDS, IUSS will organize three WCSS: Rio in 2018, Glasgow in 2022, and the Centennial Celebrations in Rome in 2024. The IUSS will strengthen linkages with other global organizations and related science societies.