It is worth starting by clarifying the term ‘soil governance’. In general, global collaboration amongst transnational entities on matters that cross national boundaries and have grown too complicated for a single state to handle alone might be characterised as international governance. It consists of non-binding ideals, institutions, procedures, and initiatives, in addition to legal regulations. States, the EU, and other state-based organisations aren’t always the only actors engaged in international governance; the business and civil society sectors are also frequently involved.1 While there is no single international treaty or organisation solely dedicated to land or soil governance, a complex network of initiatives, partnerships, guidelines, and conventions collectively contributes to it and the United Nations makes an effort to serve as a political focal point.

After defining international governance, let us examine what is meant by the international characteristic of a policy. International law is a separate legal order, distinct from national legal orders and it mostly addresses states and international organisations. In a broader sense, international law also includes elements that are not legally binding in the strict sense, but which as so-called ‘soft law’, nonetheless influencing the conduct of states and other actors in practice, as such instruments can have strong political force. Rules and other measures adopted at the international governance level normally do not have direct effect at the national level. They need to be implemented by their addressees in order to fulfil their obligation or commitment. Binding international law relevant to soil consists primarily of a small number of treaties that apply only to states that voluntarily become parties to them, additional binding legal obligations related to the environment that apply to all states are available, but they are fairly general and have not proven effective in protecting soil to date. Recognising the critical importance of land and soil health, the international community has developed numerous policies, agreements, and treaties aimed at promoting sustainable land management and soil conservation. These efforts are gradually building a more coherent global approach to soil management, though challenges remain in terms of coordination, enforcement, and comprehensive policy development.

The following is an overview of the most important relevant conventions and documents.