The Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform met on 3 March to discuss progress towards the EU’s zero pollution targets and future challenges. The group, which was set up by the European Commission in cooperation with the Committee of the Regions to achieve the zero-pollution ambition launched the second report on monitoring and the outlook for pollution reduction. The launch meeting also served as a forum for stakeholders to exchange views on the zero-pollution agenda in the light of the European Commission’s policy orientations for 2024-2029.
The platform brings together stakeholders and experts from different sectors – including health, agriculture, research and innovation, transport, digitalisation and environment – to integrate the zero-pollution agenda into different policy areas. Furthermore, it promotes cooperation, shared responsibility and practical solutions, and ensures compatibility with decarbonisation efforts and the ongoing post-COVID-19 recovery.
Second Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report
Ahead of the launch, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, delivered a keynote speech, highlighting the importance of five key pillars for achieving zero pollution:
- Implementation – Strengthening enforcement of existing policies.
- Integration – Embedding zero pollution goals into other policy areas such as agriculture and water management.
- International cooperation – recognising that pollution knows no borders and requires cross-border solutions.
- Investment – ensuring that financial commitments are aligned with zero pollution goals.
- Innovation – driving new solutions to tackle pollution effectively.
The human and environmental costs of pollution
Pollution remains one of the biggest threats to public health in the EU. It contributes to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, metabolic disorders, cognitive impairment and even cancer. Currently, pollution is responsible for 10% of premature deaths in the EU-27. As LENS previous reported, road transport and L-vehicles contribute significantly to this situation.
The study shows that while EU policies have been successful in reducing air pollution, pesticide use and plastic waste, challenges remain. Noise pollution, microplastics, nutrient pollution and waste generation continue to threaten both human health and ecosystems. With the LENS projects focusing on air pollution and noise, we have looked at these parameters in more detail below.
Air pollution
Emissions from road transport have decreased significantly. However, emissions from aviation and shipping have increased. While pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) have decreased since 1990, emissions of ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O) have increased.
Noise pollution
More than 20% of the European population is exposed to harmful noise levels. Chronic noise exposure leads to sleep disturbance, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cognitive impairment in children. Road transport remains the main source of noise pollution, with rail transport a growing concern as activity increases. Tackling noise pollution requires action not only in high-risk areas, but also in regions with moderate but persistent noise levels.
The Zero Pollution Dashboard
To support these efforts, the Zero Pollution Dashboard has been launched as a new tool to monitor and compare progress in EU regions and capitals. The dashboard tracks pollution levels against key environmental indicators in the areas of health, biodiversity, ecosystem protection and production and consumption patterns. By providing data-driven insights, it will help policymakers identify areas for urgent action and ensure that efforts to reduce pollution stay on track.