Zero Pollution Action Plan

12 May 2021
by eub2 -- last modified 13 May 2021

The European Commission adopted on 12 May the EU Action Plan: "Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil", which sets out an integrated vision for 2050: a world where pollution is reduced to levels that are no longer harmful to human health and natural ecosystems, as well as the steps to get there.

Why do we need to act more on pollution?

Despite significant progress in the EU over the last decades, pollution still heavily impacts our health and the environment. In the EU, one in eight deaths is linked to environmental pollution, with 90% of these deaths due to chronic diseases, out of which cancers score as the most frequent ones. It is estimated that air pollution alone causes up to 400.000 premature deaths each year. Pollution's most harmful impacts on human health are typically borne by the most vulnerable groups, notably children, people with medical conditions, older persons, persons with disabilities and those living in poorer socio-economic conditions, creating thus further inequalities.

In addition to our health, a toxic-free environment is also crucial to protect and restore our biodiversity and ecosystems. Pollution is one of the five main drivers of biodiversity loss. It is threatening the survival of more than 1 million of the planet's estimated 8 million plant and animal species, and the situation is expected to worsen, unless we change course.

What does 'zero pollution' mean?

The European Green Deal set the ambition of achieving zero pollution target by 2050, so that  we could all live in a toxic-free environment. To secure this, we must ensure that pollution is reduced to levels which are no longer expected to be harmful for health and natural ecosystems, respect the boundaries our planet can cope with. This means that we need to rethink the way goods and services are designed, produced, delivered, performed and/or used and disposed of and include pollution prevention in all relevant EU policies. First of all, pollution should be prevented at the source. Where fully preventing pollution from the outset is not (yet) possible, pollution should be minimised. Finally, when pollution occurred, it should be remediated – and the related damage compensated.

What is the scope of the Action Plan? What kind of pollution is covered?

The Zero Pollution Action Plan covers pollution affecting air, water and soil as well as consumer products. It also includes marine or noise pollution. For some forms of pollution, such as air pollution there is a solid evidence base that points to the need to revisit the legal framework. For others, such as pollution from light particles, more evidence is needed to determine what should be done at EU level. The Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook will help collect more such evidence, with the first report due in 2022.

In addition to targeted actions for each area, it also looks at cross-cutting issues, for instance how to support action on pollution in regions and cities, how to implement and enforce laws on pollution better, how to improve pollution monitoring, and how to make the best use of digital solutions for zero pollution.

Which measuresis the Commission proposing for air?

The Commission will propose to align the EU's air quality standards more closely with the upcoming WHO recommendations and that provisions on monitoring, modelling and air quality plans be strengthened to help local authorities, while improving the overall enforceability of the regulatory framework.

In addition, the Commission will, together with Member States, follow up on National Air Pollution Control Programmes and reduction commitments to ensure that the National Emission Reduction Commitments (NEC) Directive is fully implemented, so that by 2030 the number of land and freshwater ecosystems where air pollution-related eutrophication threatens biodiversity is reduced by 25%.

In parallel, the Commission will introduce stricter requirements to tackle air pollution at source, such as from agriculture, industry, buildings and energy, and transport, including through a number of European Green Deal measures and strategies (such as Sustainable and Smart Mobility, Renovation Wave, or Farm to Fork).

For water?

The Commission will focus on strengthening the implementation of and on modernising existing water-related laws. The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive will be revised in 2022 to reduce pollution, e.g. on nutrients and emerging pollutants such as microplastics and micropollutants including pharmaceuticals. This will go together with the updating of the lists of problematic substances for surface water and groundwater, in order to protect nature and human health from the most relevant substances based on the most up-to-date scientific insights. The Commission will also propose to review and, where relevant, modernise other water and marine laws, notably the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to make it better fit to reduce chemical contaminants and microplastics as well as possibly identifying new parameters in the Bathing Water Directive.

Taking into account the recently adopted Drinking Water Directive, the Commission will ensure that Member States promote sustainable and efficient water consumption, discourage water pollution and present a socially fair water bill to all water users and polluters – industry, agriculture and household consumers – making best use of the revenues for sustainable investments. It will also support better monitoring and prevent or reduce pollution from key substances in surface and ground waters.

For soil?

The Commission will put forward a Soil Strategy before the end of 2021. Actions focus on identifying and remediating contaminated sites. An EU priority watch list for soil contaminants and a zero soil pollution module in the future LUCAS survey on soil will help with identifying polluted sites. The Commission will also work on guidance for a passport for the safe, sustainable and circular use of excavated soil. The Commission will also raise awareness of public and private funding to tackle contaminated soils and groundwater.

Why do we need more regulation on pollution?

The EU has made significant progress in reducing pollution over the last decades, largely thanks to EU legislation. Yet, pollution still affects our health and the environment too much. To tackle the problem, we must first improve how we implement and enforce the laws already in place. Member States should also grasp the opportunity to use EU recovery funding to steer their economies on a greener and cleaner path. In addition, the Zero Pollution Action Plan proposes a new framework to better monitor pollution levels and anticipate future trends. This will help address pollution in more targeted, integrated and efficient ways. Finally, we will also need to update some of our laws on pollution, be it to align more closely with the most recent scientific evidence, or to address types of pollution that are increasingly becoming a concern.

How does zero pollution affect climate change?

In the vast majority of cases, reducing pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions go hand in hand. For instance, insulating buildings, installing more efficient, cleaner heating systems, and switching to clean public transport, walking and biking all help to clean the air and fight climate change.

How will the Zero Pollution Action Plan promote innovation?

Research and innovation are key to achieving the zero pollution ambition. The scale of the challenges requires a more ambitious and integrated approach to bring breakthrough technologies to the market faster and showcase that 'zero pollution' production can become a reality.

European partnerships under Horizon Europe, including the missions on healthy oceans, soil health and food, and climate-neutral cities will contribute to the zero pollution ambition. For instance, Horizon Europe will invest in enhancing knowledge and developing technologies for soil and groundwater remediation, especially focusing on new decontamination techniques for emerging pollutants. Partnerships such as the ''processes4planet' partnership, the European partnership for chemicals risk assessment', 'water for all' or 'Towards zero-emission road transport' will also have a strong zero pollution angle.

What digital solutions can help achieving zero pollution?

Many solutions using big data or smart sensors exist already and help reducing pollution to air, water or soil. Case studies on smart mobility, precision farming, eHealth or digital water show digital solutions for zero pollution. The Commission has prepared a document introducing these possibilities, encouraging the sustainable deployment of digital solutions and starting an exchange of good practices with the private sector, civil society and administrations. This can bring inspiration, innovation, investment and interaction to all actors wishing to contribute to the European Green Deal objectives, more specifically in relation to the zero pollution ambition.

How much will achieving zero pollution cost?

The costs and financial benefits will be detailed in the impact assessments for the separate legislative proposals. The actions in the Plan will save the economy important costs of pollution, such as for healthcare, lost workdays, or damages to buildings and crop losses. The costs of inaction hugely outweigh the costs of action. For example, air pollution costs, in terms of health and economic activities, an estimated EUR 330 to 940 billion per year in the EU, whereas all the measures to improve air quality in the EU taken so far have an estimated combined cost of EUR 70 to 80 billion per year.

Overall, the goal of the Zero Pollution Action Plan is to ensure economic and social gains. Working towards our zero pollution ambition will create clean business opportunities. It will help protect vulnerable people, notably children, people with medical conditions, older persons and persons with disabilities and those living in poorer socio-economic conditions. 

Source: European Commission