The Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) published the second Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook report, which provides an overview of the EU’s work to meet the 2030 zero pollution targets. The Commission also published its fourth Clean Air Outlook report.
The reports show that EU policies have contributed to reducing air pollution, pesticide use, and plastic litter at sea. However, pollution levels are still too high, in particular from harmful noise, microplastic releases into the environment, nutrient pollution, and waste generation. According to the reports, much stronger action is necessary in the EU to achieve its 2030 pollution reduction targets.
Zero pollution principles must be integrated into all policies and efforts taken at all levels to ensure further progress. In this context, fostering the EU’s circular economy will help reduce resource consumption and therefore will alleviate pressures on ecosystems and human health. Finally, action on zero pollution, notably through the Zero Pollution Action Plan, will support the sustainable transition of the EU’s economy and make it more competitive.
Progress towards 2030 targets but pollution levels remain too high
While progress towards the six ‘zero pollution’ targets remains mixed, pollution is decreasing from marine litter, pesticides, and antimicrobials, according to the Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook report. Air quality has also improved across Europe, supported by regulatory developments and emissions reductions, resulting in a significant decrease in premature deaths. Still, the number of deaths caused by polluted air remains too high.
In addition, ongoing pollution, particularly from ammonia and nitrogen oxides, continues to threaten EU ecosystems. This is echoed by the fourth Clean Air Outlook report, which highlights that while air pollutant emissions in the EU continue to fall, air quality poses a serious risk for health and ecosystem quality in the EU. Both reports show that more action is needed to reduce air pollution.
The Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook report also finds that the pollution levels from harmful noise, microplastics, nutrients, and waste remain too high. On noise pollution, more efforts are required, particularly in urban areas, to decrease the number of people chronically disturbed by transport noise. Further measures are needed to tackle this source of pollution. In addition, nutrient losses have remained largely unchanged, particularly due to the persistent challenges of agricultural runoff and fertiliser use.
On waste, greater efforts are also needed, as waste production continues to increase in the EU. The report clearly shows that more action is needed to achieve the EU’s zero-pollution ambition. Full implementation and enforcement of the EU environmental legislation is therefore crucial to achieve the 2030 zero-pollution targets, as set out in the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
On the legislative front, the EU has already taken steps with the revisions of the Industrial Emissions Directive, the Ambient Air Quality Directive, the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, the Waste Framework Directive, the Water Framework Directive, and the Mercury Regulation. The new Nature Restoration Regulation will also contribute to further reducing pollution pressures on ecosystems and increasing overall ecosystem resilience. To tackle the microplastics’ pollution, the Commission presented in 2023 a proposal for a Regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses to the environment. Once adopted, it will help reach this pollution target in the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
Zero Pollution Dashboard
Both reports are accompanied by the first Zero Pollution Dashboard, which shows the progress made by EU regions and all capital cities in achieving cleaner air, water, and soil.
The dashboard compares regions with each other and with the EU average. The comparison is based on several environmental pollution indicators that address health, ecosystem protection, and biodiversity, as well as production and consumption.
The dashboard highlights 15 regions across Austria, Finland, France, Germany, and Sweden, which currently boast the lowest pollution levels.
