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The European Commission is publishing its first Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook report setting pathways to cleaner air, water and soil. The Commission report, together with the European Environment Agency’s monitoring assessment, shows that EU policies have contributed to reducing air pollution as well as pollution from pesticides. However, in other areas such as harmful noise, nutrient pollution or municipal waste generation, problems persist. The results show that overall much stronger action is necessary if the EU is to achieve 2030 zero pollution targets, by adopting new anti-pollution laws and better implementing existing ones.

Progress towards 2030 targets but pollution levels still too high

罢丑别听progress towards the听听is mixed. Pollution is decreasing from pesticides, antimicrobials and marine litter. Not much progress has been made for pollution from noise, nutrients and waste. On the other hand, the overall high rates of compliance with the EU drinking and bathing water pollution standards (>99% and >93% respectively) are encouraging. For 2030, we can achieve most of the targets if additional efforts are made.

However, current听pollution levels are still far too high:听over 10% of听premature deaths听in the EU each year are still related to environmental pollution. This is mainly due to air pollution, but also to noise pollution and exposure to chemicals, which is likely to be underestimated. The pollution similarly damages biodiversity.听There are听significant differences between Member States,听with premature deaths levels around 5-6% in the North and 12-14% in the South and East of Europe.

The Commission has by now delivered or advanced on all 33 of the announced actions in the听听of 2021. In order for them to have an impact, the Commission report calls for the swift agreement and听adoption of the legislative proposals听to reduce harmful pollution,听and the听improved implementation of the existing ones听at local, national and cross-border level. Notably, it finds that if the EU implements all relevant measures proposed by the Commission, the number of premature deaths due to听air pollution听would fall by up to 66% in 2030 compared to 2005, with benefits of clean air measures outweighing costs and leading to overall GDP gains. The report also points to the importance of promoting global initiatives and supporting third countries in their efforts towards reducing pollution.

Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal听Frans听Timmermans听said:

“Once again the evidence presented today shows us that the benefits of acting for clean air, water and soil are far greater than the investment. This is also what citizens want, as more than 80% are worried about the health and environmental problems caused by pollution”.

Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries听Virginijus听Sinkevi膷ius听said:

鈥淭oday we are presenting compelling evidence about the results of ambitious action to reduce pollution. The reports show that the EU鈥檚 zero pollution ambition is realistic and possible, but only if we speed up adoption of legislative proposals linked to pollution, and step up implementation of the existing EU pollution laws. I also hope that today鈥檚 reports will help convince our global partners to agree on equally ambitious targets in the context of the upcoming COP15 negotiations on biodiversity鈥�.

Executive Director of the European Environment Agency听Hans听Bruyninckx听added:

The EEA鈥檚 first zero pollution monitoring report shows that Europe is making progress in reducing and preventing pollution in key areas, such as air, bathing water and drinking water, and is using less hazardous pesticides. But, to deliver on our 2050 vision, we need progress in reducing excess nutrients in the environment and the health impacts of noise and chemicals, and identifying emerging issues earlier.

EEA monitoring assessment shows mixed picture

• Good progress in reducing the health impacts of air pollution听has been achieved, with a 45% fall in premature deaths since 2005. If this past trend continues, the EU will be on track to meet the target of a 55% reduction.
• The area of land negatively affected by air pollution has fallen听by 12% since 2005. If this past trend continues, the EU will not meet the target of a 25% reduction.
• Little progress has been made in reducing nutrient losses听since the 2012-2015 baseline. Based on the limited progress to date, the EU is not on track to achieve the 50% reduction target.
• The use and risk of pesticides has fallen听by 14% since the baseline period of 2015-2017, while the use of more hazardous pesticides has fallen by 26%. Based on this recent trend, the EU is on track to meet its target of cutting the use and risk of pesticides, and the use of the more hazardous pesticides, by 50%.
• Sales of veterinary antimicrobials have fallen听by 18% since 2018. If this past trend continues, the EU will be on track to meet the target of a 50% reduction.
• There was no significant reduction in the share of people impacted by transport noise听between 2012 and 2017. With no indications of noise levels having declined significantly since then, the EU is unlikely to meet the target of reducing the share of people chronically disturbed by transport noise by 30%.
• Provisional analysis suggests that听the amount of plastic litter at sea has fallen in recent years. While this is encouraging, consistent and comprehensive EU-wide data is needed to assess progress towards the targets of reducing plastic litter at sea by 50% and reducing releases of microplastics into the environment by 30%.
• Total waste generation听has slowly increased between 2010 and 2018, with a sharp drop in 2020 related to the pandemic. Residual municipal waste (waste that is not recycled or reused) generation has been stable since 2016. If these waste streams do not decline significantly in coming years, the EU will not meet the targets of significantly reducing total waste generation and of reducing residual municipal waste by 50%.

Background

Today鈥檚 report by the European Commission is supported by in-depth analysis from the European Environment Agency for the monitoring part, and includes a contribution by the Joint Research Centre for the outlook part. The web-based听, prepared by the European Environment Agency, provides a cross-cutting assessment on pollution centred around the themes of production and consumption, health and ecosystems.

Pollution is the largest environmental cause of multiple mental and physical diseases, and of premature deaths, especially among children, people with certain medical conditions and the elderly. Pollution is also one of the five main threats to biodiversity.

Under the听, the Commission launched nine flagships and 33 dedicated actions to prevent and reduce pollution, most recently, the听.

All reports will be discussed at the upcoming听听on the 14 December 2022.

The monitoring and outlook assessment serves as a baseline for听future reviews听of progress the EEA will conduct, the next being scheduled for 2024, to support the European Commission and Member States in delivering the targets. It will also inform future policies designed to support the zero pollution ambition听鈥斕齮o reduce pollution to the extent that it no longer presents a risk to human health and the environment by 2050.

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