Brussels,

Pollution

The "Zero Pollution Ambition" represents a commitment to eliminating pollution that detrimentally impacts our health and the environment. Pollution is a leading environmental cause of numerous mental and physical health issues and premature deaths, particularly affecting children, individuals with specific health conditions, and the elderly. Beyond human health, pollution significantly contributes to biodiversity loss by impairing ecosystem functions such as carbon sequestration and detoxification.

The urgency for the EU to lead the global fight against pollution is underscored by compelling public health, environmental, moral, and socio-economic reasons.

On May 12, 2021, the European Commission launched the EU Action Plan: "Towards a Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil" as a crucial component of the European Green Deal. The plan is supported by the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform, which provides information and opportunities for public involvement.

Objectives

The vision for 2050 under the Zero Pollution Action Plan is to reduce pollution across air, water, and soil to levels that are no longer harmful to health or natural ecosystems, aligning with the planet's capacity to cope, thus ensuring a toxin-free environment.

Key 2030 Targets Include:

• Air Quality: Aim to cut the number of premature deaths from air pollution by 55%.
• Water Quality: Enhance water quality by reducing sea plastic litter by 50% and microplastic release by 30%.
• Soil Quality: Boost soil health by halving nutrient losses and the use of chemical pesticides.
• Biodiversity: Decrease by 25% the EU ecosystems affected by air pollution.
• Noise Pollution: Lower the proportion of people significantly disturbed by transport noise by 30%.
• Waste Reduction: Significantly cut waste generation and achieve a 50% reduction in residual municipal waste.

The Action Plan is designed to reinforce the EU's green, digital, and economic leadership, promoting a healthier, more equitable Europe and world. It serves as a guiding framework to integrate pollution prevention across all relevant EU policies, enhance the enforcement of existing laws, and identify legislative gaps.

Actions

On Chemicals

The EU's Zero Pollution Action Plan, adopted on May 12, 2021, aims to significantly reduce pollution in air, water, and soil by 2050, striving for levels that are not harmful to human health or natural ecosystems. This ambitious plan, part of the European Green Deal, addresses pollution as a major environmental threat causing health issues and biodiversity loss.

It sets specific targets for 2030 to accelerate pollution reduction at the source, including reducing premature deaths from air pollution by 55%, cutting sea plastic litter and microplastics by 50% and 30% respectively, halving the use of chemical pesticides and nutrient losses, reducing the impact of air pollution on biodiversity by 25%, and lowering noise disturbance and municipal waste by 30% and 50% respectively. The plan not only aims to enhance public health and environmental integrity but also to boost the EU's green, digital, and economic advancement, creating a fairer and healthier environment for all.

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On Air, Water and Soil

The EU has established a comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at limiting ambient air pollution, although premature deaths and diseases linked to air pollution remain prevalent. This persistence of issues can be attributed to the EU air quality standards, which are less stringent than the World health Organisation (WHO) recommendations from 2005, and the partial effectiveness of the Ambient Air Quality Directives' implementation.

There's a pressing need for improved public health protection, aligning with initiatives like Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. In 2022, the Commission plans to propose that EU air quality standards be more closely aligned with upcoming WHO recommendations. Enhancements will also be made in monitoring, modeling, and air quality plans to support local authorities and strengthen the enforceability of regulations. Simultaneously, the Commission will introduce stricter source control measures addressing pollution from sectors like agriculture, industry, transport, buildings, and energy. This will include a range of European Green Deal measures and strategies, such as sustainable and smart mobility, renovation wave, and farm to fork.

The 2021 Commission's Second Clean Air Outlook reported that the measures announced in national air pollution control programs are insufficient to meet the 2030 ammonia emission reduction targets. In response, the Commission, through its farm to fork strategy, is exploring the marketing of alternative feed materials and innovative feed additives to support a more sustainable food system and livestock farming. The review of the Industrial Emissions Directive and additional measures under the common agricultural policy will further aim to reduce ammonia emissions.

In the realm of transport, the sustainable and smart mobility strategy will address air and noise pollution through the introduction of new Euro 7 standards and improved emissions testing for road vehicles. This approach will also consider the broader implications of emissions from all types of combustion engines and braking systems in both conventional and electric vehicles.

Concerning noise pollution, the Commission will enhance efforts to tackle it at the source, based on evaluations of the Environmental Noise Directive and the Outdoor Noise Directive. Future reviews will determine the need for EU-level noise reduction targets and better integration of noise action plans into urban mobility plans.

Progress has also been made in reducing air pollution from buildings, particularly through phasing out coal and fuel oil heating. Challenges remain, however, with biomass burning in outdated installations. The Commission's initiatives, such as the renovation wave and New European Bauhaus, will focus on integrating zero pollution with clean energy and efficiency goals.

Indoor air quality remains a priority, with the EU addressing various determinants from construction materials to heating systems. The renovation wave will tackle issues like healthy indoor temperatures and decontamination, including asbestos removal. The revised Drinking Water Directive, effective from January 2023, will enhance water quality by introducing stricter standards and addressing new pollutants, such as endocrine disruptors and microplastics.

In summary, the EU is intensifying efforts across multiple fronts to combat pollution and protect public health through stricter regulations, targeted strategies, and international cooperation, ensuring a holistic approach to creating a cleaner, healthier environment.
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There is a Commission' Communication COM(2021) 400, on ​Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil.
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On Industrial Emissions

On 24 April 2024, a new Directive was signed by EU legislator for revising current Directive 2010/75/EU on Industrial Emissionsand Council Directive 1999/31/EU on Landifill of Waste.

​Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions (IED) regulates the environmental impact of approximately 52,000 high-risk industrial and livestock operations across Europe, addressing all significant pollutants affecting human health and the environment. The IED oversees about 20% of the EU's air and water pollutant emissions and 40% of its greenhouse gas emissions, covering sectors like power generation, metal production, chemical manufacturing, and intensive livestock rearing.

The 2020 evaluation of the IED found it generally effective in mitigating pollution and promoting best available techniques, significantly reducing air pollutants and moderately decreasing water and soil emissions. Although its influence on resource efficiency, circular economy, and innovation is less clear, the IED has contributed positively but modestly to these areas and has had limited impact on decarbonization.

Challenges remain, particularly with inconsistent implementation across member states, which hampers the Directive’s effectiveness and the equitable application of the 'polluter pays' principle. To address these issues, the European Commission, under the European Green Deal, plans to revise measures targeting pollution from these installations, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals. The revision aims to catalyze a significant transformation toward zero pollution, enhancing industry resilience against climate change impacts, fostering a non-toxic environment, and promoting a competitive yet fair regulatory landscape. Upcoming changes will also focus on modernizing legislation, improving transparency, public participation, and access to justice.

The amendment to Article 1 of Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste aims to enable the adoption of Best Available Techniques (BAT) conclusions for landfills, a move not previously feasible due to the existing regulations under the same directive. Although the landfill sector falls under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), it lacked specific BAT conclusions because its operations were already governed by Council Directive 1999/31/EC, which were considered to constitute BAT. However, advancements in technology and innovation since the directive's enactment have led to the development of more effective methods for safeguarding human health and the environment. Adopting BAT conclusions would address crucial environmental challenges associated with waste landfill operations, including significant methane emissions.