Land consumption

Abstract

The UN-Habitat 2024 report shows increasing land consumption and a sharp reduction in green areas worldwide. In European cities like Madrid and Milan, urbanized areas far exceed natural spaces. The United Nations, through the 2030 Agenda, aims to halt land degradation and achieve neutrality. This goal involves preventing, reducing, and restoring degraded soils. The European Union has promoted policies since 2006 to limit land artificialization. The European Green Deal reinforces the goal of climate neutrality by 2050. In 2025, a European directive was approved to monitor and improve soil health. Italy adopted policies like the Ecological Transition Plan to reach zero land consumption by 2030. Italian regions implement urban regeneration and limits on land development. Spain and other European countries follow similar sustainability-based planning models. France introduced the concept of “net zero artificialization” with ecological compensation. Despite these policies, land consumption continues to rise in Europe and globally. Factors such as renewable energy, logistics, and data centers increase land use. already urbanized areas is promoted to reduce environmental impact. In conclusion, there is a conflict between economic development and sustainability, where urban regeneration is key.