Building a legal framework for a soil carbon bank in Slovakia: Policy assessment and recommendations within the EU legal and policy context

Soil is Europe’s largest terrestrial carbon reservoir, essential for climate neutrality, biodiversity, and food security. Yet, it remains the only major natural resource in the European Union without a binding legal framework. The EU Soil Strategy for 2030 and related Green Deal policies offer a vision for reversing soil degradation and boosting carbon sequestration, but legal and policy gaps persist at both EU and national levels. This article assesses the EU’s evolving framework, including the proposed Soil Health Law and the Carbon Removal Certification Framework. It also evaluates Slovakia’s national response, focusing on the 2025 amendment to the Agricultural Land Act and the failed proposal for a Climate Soil Fund. Despite these efforts, Slovakia lacks clear legal mandates, financial incentives, and coordinated policies to fully support soil-based climate action. The main contribution of this article lies in identifying how the absence of an integrated legal and financial framework in Slovakia undermines the practical implementation of soil carbon sequestration measures. The greatest challenge highlighted is the political and institutional inertia that prevents Slovakia from translating EU soil policy ambitions into enforceable national legislation and operational support for land managers. The article recommends adopting a comprehensive Soil Protection Act, establishing financial incentives for carbon farming, improving soil monitoring, and strengthening policy integration across sectors. These steps are vital for unlocking soil’s climate potential and aligning Slovakia with EU climate and biodiversity targets.