African countries are leading global efforts in integrating soil health into climate action, a strategy largely overlooked by the majority of the world, according to a recent analysis by the Save Soil campaign. This oversight is significant as soils represent the planet’s largest terrestrial carbon sink and offer substantial potential for emissions reduction.

• 70% of countries worldwide still do not treat soil or agriculture as meaningful climate mitigation tools.
• The UN-backed Save Soil campaign highlights that soils can contribute nearly 27% of the emissions cuts required to limit global warming below 2°C.
• São Tomé and Príncipe is a standout example, with 89% of its territory covered by forestry and agroforestry, and plans to restore 36,000 hectares of degraded land by 2035.