Bridging soil and land targets to reality on the ground

The ‘No Net Land Take by 2050’ (referred to as NNLT in the following articles) goal stands as a cornerstone of the European Union's comprehensive strategy to safeguard its soils, as outlined in the Soil Strategy for 2030. This objective aims to balance new land development with the restoration of equivalent degraded land, preventing soil loss for nature and agriculture, as well as its vital ecosystem services. The EU's Soil Strategy for 2030 and the proposed Nature Restoration Law are powerful catalysts, driving policy focus towards this critical environmental imperative. However, while the 2050 goal provides a strong policy direction, the degree to which it is enforced varies significantly across member states. The widening gap between these policy objectives and the on-the-ground realities is a growing concern, necessitating an increased push for more binding legislation and local awareness. In Italy, the reform of Title V of the Constitution shifted urban planning (territorial governance) to a concurrent responsibility between the State and Regions. This has led to legislative reform at the regional level, with each region promulgating its land use planning laws, albeit in the absence of a national coordination framework. Consequently, the Italian system is characterised by regional autonomy, resulting in significant asymmetries in tools and procedures for approved urban plans, contributing to a heterogeneous and often chaotic urban planning landscape across the Italian peninsula.