Over 1,000 sq km of soil disappearing from EU every year due to development

Ireland South MEP Grace O'Sullivan says provisions to protect soil are long overdue.

A landmark environmental agreement between EU powerbrokers includes a proposal for bloc-wide soil protection for the first time — "one of the sweetest parts of the deal", according to the Irish MEP who led negotiations on behalf of her colleagues.

Ireland South MEP Grace O'Sullivan said provisions to protect soil are long overdue. According to the largest network of environmental citizens’ organisations in Europe, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), some 1,000 sq km of soil is disappearing every year due to development.