A study published in Communications Earth & Environment, London, report that a global model estimated about 1304 peta grams of stabilized soil organic carbon in the top meter of soils, accounting for roughly half of total soil carbon. This stable carbon is unevenly distributed, mainly concentrated in wetlands and cold-temperate regions, with soil properties driving most spatial variation. Climate and land management show threshold effects, influencing how effectively carbon becomes stabilized in soils. The study introduces “soil negative carbon potential” as an indicator of carbon storage efficiency, linking higher stabilization with lower emissions and minimal yield trade-offs.