By Abdullahi Lukman
Despite recent policy efforts, the European Union is struggling to meet its 2030 pollution reduction targets, according to a new report by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA).
The second Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook (ZPMO) report, released March 3rd, highlights persistent high levels of pollution across EU soils, waters, and air.
The report reveals that while some progress has been made in reducing marine litter, pesticides, and antimicrobials since 2022, pollution from harmful noise, microplastics, and waste remains excessively high.
Furthermore, continued nutrient loss from fertilizer use and pollution from ammonia and nitrogen oxides pose significant risks.
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“We must consume better, differently and less,” urged EEA Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen, emphasizing the unsustainable scale of resource consumption within the EU and its impact on global trading partners.
The report stresses the need for policymakers to integrate “zero pollution principles” into all biodiversity, climate, economic, energy, and industrial policies.
The ZPMO report cites legislative tools like the Nature Restoration Law and updated motor vehicle emission regulations as crucial for achieving zero pollution ambitions.
Upcoming initiatives such as the European Water Resilience Strategy, the European Oceans Pact, the Circular Economy Act, and the Chemicals Industry Package are also identified as vital to addressing identified shortcomings.
A new zero pollution dashboard, visualizing regional and capital pollution scores, revealed that between 2020 and 2022, 15 regions in Austria, Finland, France, Germany, and Sweden exhibited the lowest pollution levels in Europe.
EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall emphasized that these upcoming initiatives will be crucial to addressing the report’s findings.
