Zero Pollution Action Plan: Mid-term review highlights local efforts to achieve the 2030 targets

The European Commission's mid-term review of the Zero Pollution Action Plan welcomes the efforts of cities and regions in reducing pollution and taking action to improve air, soil and water quality, but urges the Member States to step up the implementation of the EU pollution legislation. The report was presented on 29 January at the 8th Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform meeting at the European Committee of the Regions.

The report underlines the strong connection between environmental protection and public health, showing that cutting air, water, soil and noise pollution delivers immediate health benefits such as reductions in asthma, heart disease, and mental illness. It also emphasises the economic and social benefits of pollution reduction measures.

The mid-term review report notes encouraging progress towards the Zero Pollution Action Plan's 2030 targets for air pollution, pesticide use, antimicrobial sales and plastic pollution at sea. However, the situation for waters, waste, noise and microplastics pollution remains stable or is worsening, with PFAs, a class of synthetic chemicals associated with negative impacts on health, as a growing public concern that the European Commission is planning to address with a new set of stakeholder dialogues.

The Commission is urging Member States to step up the implementation and enforcement of EU pollution legislation and boost investment in innovation, digitalisation, and skills development. It underlines that cities across Europe have successfully contributed to reducing pollution in the framework of different EU initiatives, such as the Cities Mission or the Green City Accord.

The report was presented and discussed at the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform meeting on 29 January. The European Commission set up the platform in cooperation with the CoR to regularly bring together stakeholders and experts of different policy areas to support achieving the EU's zero pollution ambition. Participants discussed the platform's future, considering also the developments in the new EU legislative term. The CoR will continue to co-chair and co-organise the activities of the Platform.

Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform co-chair Marieke Schouten (NL/Greens&Pro), Alderman of the Municipality of Nieuwegein, said: "The mid-term review is clear: despite progress, the EU must step up efforts to meet the 2030 zero pollution targets. Local and regional authorities are on the frontline protecting people's health, but they need stronger EU backing. In these turbulent geopolitical times, it is reassuring that the EU maintains a firm, forward-looking path on zero pollution. Continuing the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform is essential - uniting diverse voices to build a healthier, fairer and more resilient Europe."

The meeting was followed by a workshop on textile waste collection, organised in collaboration with Municipal Waste Europe, to assess the progress and challenges one year after the EU introduced mandatory separate collection of municipal textile waste.

More information:

• Europe's health and competitiveness suffering due to slow pollution laws implementation, says new report (European Commission)

• Rewatch the 8th Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform meeting