The Zero Pollution Action Plan set out 9 flagship initiatives listed below and 33 actions (see the list here). Active stakeholder involvement will be essential to implement them. We will provide you with regular information on their implementation through the Action Tracker on this page and through the newsletter.
If you are interested in contributing to any of these initiatives, please register for the newsletter.
The Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform also developed a Work Programme for 2022 to 2024, as discussed at the first meeting of the Platform. Updated information on the activities listed in the Work Programme is available here.
Status: Ongoing (advanced)
The European Cancer Inequalities Register includes some air quality data from the outset. At present the ECIR data tool presents data on exposure to particulate matter 2.5 and 10, and some information on the country-specific situation concerning the impact of environmental pollution on cancer is available in the Country Cancer Profiles that were published in February 2023.
The Cancer Inequalities Registry now also provides information on environmental indicators representing a risk factor for cancer, including pollution. This helps identify trends, disparities and inequalities across EU regions regarding exposure to environmental pollution and the impact on cancer, to guide targeted interventions at EU, national and local level.
In addition, the Atlas of Demography is available. This will also enable people to compare how much pollution affects their health across the different regions where they live, study and work. Thematic stories on demography and air, water and soil pollution have been published in June 2023. The intention is to further develop the Atlas and include more pollution relevant information by 2024.
Moreover, the EU Research and Innovation framework programmes have funded over 500 multinational, multi-partner projects on Environment and health research which contribute to the scientific understanding of the impacts of environmental exposures on health.
Timing / key deliverables
2024: updated European Cancer Inequalities Register and Atlas of Demography including pollution monitoring and outlook data
Responsible organisation
European Commission (SANTE, JRC, ENV) and EEA
Sources of additional information
- European Cancer Inequalities Register and ‘Effect of environmental factors on cancer in Europe’ (fact sheet)
- European Cancer Information System
- Atlas of Demography and thematic stories on:
- Demography and air pollution
- Demography and water pollution
- Demography and soil pollution
- EEA Environment and Health Atlas
- Beating cancer - the role of Europe’s environment - European Environment Agency
- EU environment, climate and health research
Several discussions have taken place including:
- Orientation debate at the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform meeting on 25 April 2022
- Dedicated workshop on ‘Reducing health inequalities through zero pollution’ on 14-15 June 2023 (see agenda and presentations of day 1 and day 2)
- EU Climate and Health conference on 19-20 February 2024
Status: Completed
The Commission will, in synergy with the EU Mission for ‘Climate-neutral and Smart Cities’, the revision of the Urban Mobility Package, the Covenant of Mayors, and the New European Bauhaus initiative, identify key urban greening and innovation needs to prevent pollution, including indoors. By 2024, the Commission will reward the cities reporting the most progress over 2021-2023 in reducing air, water and soil pollution. This will help people benefit from actions against pollution that are tailored to their immediate local surroundings.
The 112 cities selected as part of the EU Cities Mission were announced on 28 April 2022 and the Mission Platform is now working with them in order to develop their Climate City Contracts (CCC). These cities will work on a wide range of topics to achieve their goals, including urban pollution.
Most of the 117 signatory cities of the Green City Accord have started the reporting exercise on the baseline data and targets for 2030. The Green City Accord indicators cover air quality, water quality, water treatment and water efficiency, noise, waste and circular economy, and biodiversity.
Timing / key deliverables:
Next steps
Call for feedback with EU survey
Responsible organisation
European Commission (RTD, REGIO)
Sources of additional information
- Green City Accord
- Year of Greener Cities
- Horizon Europe Mission for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities
- Urban Mobility Package
- Covenant of Mayors
- New European Bauhaus initiative
- Report on the quality of life in European cities 2023
Several discussions have taken place that identified key urban greening needs, including:
- Orientation debate at the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform meeting of 11 October 2022
- High Level meeting on Zero Pollution at the European Week of Regions and Cities on 11 October 2022
- Member State Zero Pollution Steering Committee meeting discussed urban agenda on 15 March 2023
Status: Completed
By 2024, and in cooperation with the Committee of the Regions, the Commission will present a Scoreboard of EU regions’ zero pollution performance to measure, in particular the efforts of EU regions to achieve the environmental-relevant targets set under this action plan and other strategies. It will be the basis for rewarding the best performances and grant an award for the Green Region of the Year, possibly in the context of REGIOSTARS. Citizens, regional administrations and businesses will be able to check progress over time and highlight best practices while informing choices and investments as well as creating a race to zero pollution including with new regional tourism and business opportunities. In synergy with Flagship 2, the scoreboard will also assess cities green performance (see Flagship 2), the scoreboard will also assess cities’ green performance (see flagship 2).
The development of the first prototype is ongoing. It focuses on core indicators and takes into account relevant regional initiatives (8th EU Cohesion Report, 2020 EU Regional handbook, REGIOSTARs, and others) and urban developments (see Flagship 2) and will be published on the Europa website.
A scoping study on scoring ZP performance on cities and regions has been finalised and a prototype is under preparation.
The 9th Cohesion Report, presented in March 2024, highlighted that air pollution in the EU is still characterised by socio-economic differences. Although air quality improved in the richest and poorest regions of the EU over the period 2007–2020, inequalities persist as the concentration of fine inhalable particles is consistently around a third higher in the poorest regions more dependent on solid fuels for heating.
Timing / key deliverables:
Next steps
Call for feedback with EU survey
Sources of additional information
- REGIOSTARS Awards
- Ninth Report on Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion
- Inforegio - Eighth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion
- The 2022 Eurostat Regional Yearbook
- Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies
Several discussions have taken place including:
- Orientation debate at the ZP Stakeholder Platform meeting of 11 October 2022
- High Level event at the European Week of Cities and Regions on 11 October 2022
- Workshop on “scoring ZP performance on cities and regions” of 25 April 2023 (see report, presentations and final concept paper).
Status: Completed
From 2022 onwards, the Commission will encourage public and private sector operators to make ‘Zero Pollution pledges’ to promote the best available ‘near-zero waste’ options, and products and services proven to be less polluting over their whole life cycle. With a focus on EU Ecolabel products and services, including tourist accommodation and less toxic chemicals and materials, this will provide people with more offers and information on cleaner options.
Beside these initiatives that encourage a wide range of stakeholders to commit to promoting less-polluting products and services (the European Climate Pact, the Green Consumption Pledges, the Sustainable Consumption Pledge and the Transition Pathway for Tourism), the Commission has presented several initiatives which will translate this Flagship into practice, in particular the:
- Proposal for Ecodesign for Sustainable Products including the digital product passport;
- Proposal on empowering consumers for the green transition
- Proposal for a Green Claims Directive;
- Commission recommendations for “safe and sustainable by design”.
Moreover, there has been significant progress in the implementation of the EU Ecolabel, where the number of products and licences has been growing continuously. Since 2020, more than 13 000 new EU Ecolabel products have been registered. They provide alternatives to consumers for cleaner, less polluting products and services, empowering them to make informed choices and play an active role in the ecological transition. The newly released Flash Eurobarometer 535 shows that citizens’ awareness and trust in the EU Ecolabel are increasing. For instance, based on responses from over 25 000 citizens, across the 27 EU Member States, the survey shows that 38% of EU citizens recognise the EU Ecolabel logo, an increase of 11 percentage points since 2017.
The Single Market and Competitiveness report published in February 2024 contains a competitiveness scoreboard which concludes that the air emission intensity of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in manufacturing was stable at 0.07 grammes per euro between 2018 and 2020, despite a previous decrease due to EU countries applying best available techniques. This suggests the need for further efforts to move towards zero-pollution industry in the EU. On average, about one third of EU businesses (32% of SMEs and 46% of large businesses) declared that they offered green products or services in 2021.
The Transition Pathway for Tourism has received more than 400 pledges since 2022, including actions related to the green transition.
Responsible organisation
European Commission (CLIMA, JUST, ENV)
Sources of additional information
- European Climate Pact
- Sustainable Consumption Pledge
- Transition Pathway for Tourism
- An orientation debate at the ZP Stakeholder Platform meeting of 20 April 2023 (see report and presentation)
Status: Ongoing (advanced)
As of 2022, the Commission will bring together environmental and other enforcement authorities (e.g. those in charge of EU transport, energy, agriculture, or consumer protection legislation) to kick off the exchange of best practices and encourage Member States to devise cross-sectorial compliance actions towards zero tolerance for pollution at a national level and transboundary level. People will ultimately benefit from cleaner air, water, and soil and less noise, thanks to better enforcement of pollution-related legislation.
Out of the eight actions envisaged under this Flagship, seven have already been completed.
The Commission has promoted enhanced collaboration between national authorities and European networks of environmental agencies, inspectors, auditors, police, prosecutors and judges. It has also brought together environmental and other enforcement authorities, encouraged the application of existing inspections and other compliance checks and penalty clauses, and promoted the use of cutting-edge technologies to boost national capacities for monitoring and compliance verification. These actions are based on the ongoing work by IMPEL as well as the Environmental Compliance and Governance Forum. Moreover, TAIEX EIR P2P is available to Member States willing to develop new actions.
The horizontal legal framework will be significantly improved with the adoption of the new Environmental Crime Directive proposed by the Commission. The co-legislators came to a political agreement on 16 November 2023.
Furthermore, the Commission has systematically included detailed provisions on compliance assurance – including on sanctions – in its new legislative proposals, and closely monitors the proportionate and dissuasive application of penalty clauses in force. The Commission’s enforcement action can be verified through the interactive infringement map.
Timing / key deliverables
From 2022
Next steps
Finalisation of the evaluation of the Environment Liability Directive (see action 21).
Responsible organisation
European Commission (ENV)
Sources of additional information
TAIEX-EIR Multi-country Flagship Workshop: Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil, 9 February (webinar available on Vimeo).
Background document for TAIEX-EIR event with the Environment Governance and Compliance Forum (PDF)
Workshop on “Making Zero Pollution Integration Across Policies Work” of 14 March 2023
Standard provisions on compliance assurance have been introduced in several proposals, e.g. for the revisions of the directives on industrial emissions (Action 16), ambient air quality (Action 1), and, urban wastewater treatment (Action 13). The issue was also discussed at dedicated meetings of the Sub-Group on sanctioning of environmental offenses of the Environment Governance and Compliance Forum.
Interactive infringement map on the Commission’s enforcement action.
Status: Ongoing (advanced)
From 2022 onwards, the Commission will showcase from the Renovation Wave Strategy and New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative how building projects and the use of Local Digital Twins can also contribute to Zero Pollution objectives by applying principles based on ‘beautiful, sustainable, together’. These results will also contribute to the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive, with improved housing and less pollution from, in, and around buildings, as well as money-saving.
Timing / key deliverables
From 2022
Sources of additional information
A festival of the New European Bauhaus took place from 9-12 June 2022, with physical activities in Brussels but with a lot of side-events accessible online. Designed around four main pillars: the Fair, the Fest, the Forum and Side-events. The second edition of the NEB Festival took place again from 9-13 April 2024.
A resolution on the New European Bauhaus was adopted by the European Parliament on 14 September 2022.
On 24 November 2022, President von der Leyen launched the idea of a NEB Academy in Espoo, Finland. Work is underway to create a network of NEB academy hubs, as well as a NEB Academy Collaborative Platform.
The 2023 NEB prizes were awarded to 15 winners on 22 June 2023. The call for the 2024 NEB prizes closed on 15 November 2023 and 20 laureates were announced on 12 April 2024.
On 19 July 2023 the European Commission proposed a sixth Horizon Europe Mission dedicated entirely to the New European Bauhaus (NEB). If endorsed by the Member States and the community, this Mission would be added to the existing five which cover adaptation to climate change, cancer, climate neutral and smart cities, the restoration of our ocean and waters, and soils.
The European Urban Initiative (EUI) supports urban areas with innovative actions, capacity and knowledge building, policy development and communication on sustainable urban development. The EUI published its first call for proposals in October 2022 with a deadline in January 2023. The call, with an allocated budget of EUR 50 million, attracted 99 applications from 21 Member States. The second call for proposals was launched in May 2023 till October 2023 with an allocated budget of EUR 120 million, receiving 112 applications from 21 Member States. The third call for proposals was published on 6 May till 14 October with a budget of EUR 90 million.
Status: Completed
In 2021, the Commission, together with partners, launched 'Living Labs for green digital solutions and smart zero pollution' to engage with regional and local authorities (for example through the Living-in.eu community) and other stakeholders to help develop local actions for green and digital transformation which contribute to the European Digital Green Coalition and the European Climate Pact. By 2023, the Living Lab members are to develop recommendations for a climate and environment-friendly use of digital solutions to accelerate Zero Pollution efforts, with a particular focus on citizen engagement.
The launch event and the first workshop took place on 04 April 2022 and the second workshop was on 12 September 2022. The concluding event for the preparation of the recommendations took place at the Open Living Lab Days in Torino (21 September 2022) and thereafter the proposals for recommendations were presented to the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform. The final recommendations were endorsed by the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform in April 2023.
Timing / key deliverables
2022: ENOLL workshops
2023: Final ENOLL Recommendation
Responsible organisation
ENOLL and European Commission (CNECT, ENV)
Sources of additional information (Flagship 7)
- European Network of Living Labs (ENOLL)
- Environment Council Conclusions 2020: ‘Digitalisation for the benefit of the Environment’
- European Digital Green Coalition
- Launch event of Flagship 7 of the European Commission’s Zero Pollution Action Plan | Shaping Europe’s digital future (europa.eu)
- “Living labs for green digital solutions & smart zero pollution” Presentation of the recommendations at the Open Living Lab Days 2023
Status: Ongoing (advanced)
As of 2021, the Commission will promote global Zero Pollution in all relevant international fora and work with the EU Member States and stakeholders to significantly reduce the EU’s external pollution footprint, notably by proposing, in line with EU international commitments, to restrict the export of certain products which are no longer allowed in the EU market, and wastes that have harmful environmental impacts in third countries (such as subjecting plastic waste and electrical and electronic waste to the controls and restrictions of the UN Basel Convention). This will ultimately reduce EU global pollution footprint and benefit third-country citizens’ health and environment.
The Waste Shipment Regulation Waste Shipment Regulation adopted in April 2024 looks at the rules governing the EU when exporting waste, in line with the international rules.
The ongoing activities under the UN Basel Convention on environmentally sound management of waste lead acid batteries are available below. The Commission is an active member of the Small Intersessional Working Group that will prepare a first draft of the guidelines.
The Global Biodiversity Framework agreed upon in December 2022 includes as part of target 7, a Zero Pollution ambition for the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Negotiations on a new international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution including in the marine environment, and a Science Policy Panel for Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution are ongoing.
Moreover, the link between pollution and the One Health agenda was discussed at the Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health. It will define the future environment and health priorities and commitments for the WHO European Region.
The Ministerial Declaration of the UNEA-6 in Nairobi (29 February – 1 March) included decisions on a binding agreement on plastic pollution, enhanced efforts and broader cooperation to address pollution “recognizing that pollution is a leading environmental risk factor for human health which has a negative impact on ecosystems and climate change, transcends national borders, and affects regions in different ways”, sound management on chemicals and waste, including pollution in disaster risk management policies, and empowering women and girls and persons with disabilities in pursuit of inclusive and equitable solutions to global challenges, including pollution.
Timing / key deliverables
From 2021
Next steps
Feb-March 2024: UNEA-6
Responsible organisation
European Commission (ENV)
Sources of additional information
Status: Completed
From 2021 onwards, the Commission will consolidate the roles of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) as the EU’s Knowledge Centres of Excellence for Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook, and bring together relevant players in the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform to exchange on best available data and inform the public, in particular through the upcoming Air Quality Index App.
Timing / key deliverables
- 3 March 2025:Launch of Zero Pollution dashboard for regions and cities
- 2021: Air Quality App launched
- 2022: First ZP Monitoring and Outlook Report
- 2024: Stakeholder Workshop on the Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook
Responsible organisation
European Commission (ENV)
Sources of additional information
- The first Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook was published on 8 December 2022
- The first Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report was presented at the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Conference on 14 December 2022
- The Joint Research Centre (JRC) established a new portfolio on "zero pollution for planetary health – integrated response” (ZEPHIR)
- The European Environment Agency (EEA) published the Zero Pollution Assessment involving the European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET) and is preparing an Environment & Health Atlas (see Action 32)
- Stakeholder Workshop “Towards a Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook”
- The Stakeholder Workshop on 24/25 May 2022 was dedicated to the preparations for the first Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook and the Integrated Nutrient Management Action Plan (INMAP) with a focus on integrated assessments and modeling of nutrients. Presentations and results are available here.
- Catalogue of projects (2021-2022 calls)
- The EU Research & Innovation Framework Programmes on Environment and Health have covered a variety of research areas related to the impacts of environmental factors on health, including the impacts of chemical stressors as well as the overall approach to the environmental determinants of health and disease (including the exposome). Other significant research areas have been nanomaterials and health, pollution monitoring and mitigation, and urban health.
- There are currently 10 clusters of more than 50 projects active. For example, the Urban Health Cluster and the Indoor Air Quality and Health (IDEAL) aim to provide evidence on the health impacts of pollution in urban areas including air/indoor air and light pollution. The European Human Exposome Network (EHEN) advances the understanding of health impacts of global exposure to environmental factors covering also air and noise pollution and chemical risk factors. The CUSP Cluster aims to fill the knowledge gaps in the understanding of impacts of the exposure to micro- and nanoplastics on human health. METEOR is a cluster of five projects researching the health impacts of environmental stressors and related socioeconomic costs.
1. Revise the Ambient Air Quality Directives
Completed
More information:
- Agreement between Parliament, Council and Commission reached
- Proposal for a revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives
- Air quality - revision of EU rules (Have your say)
- EU Clean Air Policy
- Clean Air Outlook – Report analysing the prospects for reducing air pollution in the EU by 2030 and beyond
2. Introduce more stringent emission limits for motor vehicles (Euro 7)
Completed
More information:
3. Reduce air and noise emissions from transport at source by updating, where relevant, EU or international regulatory frameworks
Completed
More information:
- Application of the technical specification for interoperability relating to the subsystem ‘rolling stock — noise’ to the existing freight wagons.
- Revised trans-European transport network (TEN-T) Regulation (EU) 2024/1679: includes development of sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs) to reduce noise and air pollution
4. Implementation Report on the Environmental Noise Directive
Completed
More information:
- Implementation Report on the Environmental Noise Directive published on 20 March 2023
- Evaluation of Environmental Noise Directive
5. Follow up of the evaluation of the Outdoor Noise Directive
Completed
More information:
- Noise Emission by Outdoor Equipment – database; EU legislation; latest developments and studies; etc.
- Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1208 on methods to measure airborne noise emitted by equipment for use outdoors
6. Assess pathways and policy options to improve indoor air quality, and propose legislative measure as relevant
Completed
More information:
- Indoor air quality - European Environment Agency
- Staff Working Document SWD (2024) 147 - Supporting Indoor Air Quality
7. Review and, if necessary, revise the Bathing Water Directive
Completed
More information:
8. Support the implementation of the new Drinking Water Directive (DWD) and adopt relevant implementing and delegated act
Completed
More information:
- Directive review - Drinking water - Environment - European Commission
- Commission decision establishing a watch list of substances and compounds of concern for water intended for human consumption adopted on 19/1/2022
- Implementing and Delegated acts in relation to ‘materials in contact with drinking water’ (adopted 23/01/2024)
- Delegated Decision on a methodology to measure microplastics in water intended for human consumption adopted on 16 May 2024
- Technical guidelines on analytical methods for PFAS in drinking water
In addition to making a recast DWD transposition checklist available to Member States in the past, the Commission replied to a significant number of questions from Member State authorities regarding the transposition of the recast DWD provisions. Member States have to transpose the Directive into national law and comply with its provisions by 12 January 2023.
The Commission, together with the EEA and in consultation with the Member States, is supporting the Member States in setting up their (uniform) data sets on the quality of drinking water in accordance with the recast DWD provisions.
9. Review and, if necessary, revise the Energy Efficiency Directive, the Renewable Energy Directive and the eco-design and energy labelling requirements for heating appliances
Completed
More information:
A revision to the Renewable Energy Directive was adopted in October 2023. It sets a binding overall 2030 EU target for the share of consumption of energy from renewable sources of 42.5%, with an aspirational target of 45%.
A revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive was adopted on 13 September 2023 and entered into force on 10 October.
Energy efficient products (including heating appliances)
The Commission is currently working on reviewing the full range of eco-design and energy labelling regulations relating to heating appliances. These different regulations address local space heaters, hydronic space and combination heaters, solid fuel local space heaters and solid fuel boilers. The timing for each of these differs but they are mostly expected to be adopted between the end of 2023the first quarter of 2024 and the beginning end of 2025. The progress on the different reviews and regulatory processes can be following via the specific Have-Your-Say pages of each initiative.
10. Revise the Environmental Quality Standards Directive and the Groundwater Directive
Completed
More information:
- Proposal for a Directive amending the Water Framework Directive, the Groundwater Directive and the Environmental Quality Standards Directive
- Priority substances under the Water Framework Directive
- Integrated water management – revised lists of surface and groundwater pollutants (Have your say)
11. Review and, if necessary, revise the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Completed
More information:
12. Reduce underwater noise and marine litter through EU threshold values to be set under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Completed
More information:
- Implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive; setting of threshold values under Commission Decision 2017/848/EU
The threshold values for beach litter and underwater noise are finalised:
The Commission adopted on 11 March 2024 a Notice C/2024/1268 on the threshold values set under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC and Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848
13. Revise the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive in synergy with the review of the Industrial Emissions Directive and the evaluation of the Sewage Sludge Directive
Completed
More information:
- Proposal for a revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive
- Review of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
- Water pollution – EU rules on urban wastewater treatment (update) (Have your say)
14. Support the implementation of the Strategic Guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture - Environmental performance aspects
Ongoing (advanced)
More information:
26 EU Member States have adopted Multi-annual National Strategic Plans for aquaculture and programmes for the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (2021-2027). In the context of the preparation of these plans and programmes, the Commission has stressed the need to include the objective of increasing the environmental performance of the sector and related actions to this aim, which of course also covers preventing and reducing pollution.
As part of the further implementation, the Commission will:
- Provide guidance on good practices on how to prevent or mitigate impact on the environment by aquaculture activities. Work on such guidance has just started and will be completed between 2023 and 2024.
- Promote types of aquaculture with lower environmental impact (including organic aquaculture but also farming of low trophic species, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, or energy efficient recirculating aquaculture systems).
- Promote aquaculture offering environmental services, such as algae or molluscs, which have bioremediation capacity.
A guidance document including environmental indicators will be adopted by the end of 2024.
15. Identify and remedy contaminated sites by:
- establishing an EU priority watch list for soil contaminants and introducing a zero soil pollution module in the future LUCAS survey;
- investigating best practices and providing guidance for a passport for the safe, sustainable and circular use of excavated soil;
- facilitating and promoting awareness of public and private funding for identification, investigation, assessment and remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater.
Completed
More information:
This will now be largely implemented through the EU Soil Strategy and the proposal for a Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience.
16. Revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive and the E-PRTR Regulation
Completed
More information:
- Agreement between European Parliament, Council and Commission reached on 29/11/2023
- Review of Industrial Emission Directive
- Revision of the E-PRTR Regulation (now Industrial Emissions Portal Regulation)
17. Recommendations on the basis of a fitness check on the implementation of the Polluter Pays Principle
Ongoing (advanced stage)
More information:
- Green taxation and other economic instruments – Internalising environmental costs to make the polluter pay
- Open public consultation launched
The fitness check offers the opportunity to look at the Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) from a broad and systemic perspective. There is a common understanding that it will also include Environmentally Harmful Subsidies (EHS) as well as cost recovery charges and taxes. The Call for Evidence is available for feedback on Polluter Pays Principle – fitness check of its application to the environment (europa.eu)
18. Revision of the Mercury Regulation
Completed
More information:
- Agreement between European Parliament, Council and Commission reached on 08/02/2024
- Mercury – review of EU law (Have your say)
- Proposal for a revision to the Mercury Regulation
19. Support OECD's international work on best available techniques (BAT), including new and emerging technologies, to reduce industrial emissions
Ongoing (advanced)
More information:
The Commission has continued to support the OECD in its work on best available techniques (BATs), thus promoting the EU environmental standards internationally. A new cycle of actions has started in 2022, including cross-country comparison of BATs or capacity building workshops.
The cross-comparison of BATs for waste incineration, iron and steel production, and pulp and paper production is being finalised. Capacity-building actions for Vietnam were carried out, including a workshop in 2023. An analysis of international practices to identify emerging techniques has been started.
20. Revise the Environmental Crime Directive
Completed
More information:
21. Evaluation of the Environmental Liability Directive
Ongoing (advanced)
More information:
22. Build capacity and improve knowledge on less polluting practices with national advisory services for farmers
Ongoing (advanced)
More information:
- Preparatory work has been completed: a survey of advisory services for farmers finalised and a webinar was organised to discuss results. The final report is available.The post-2020 CAP aims at solving this heterogeneity by providing a decision-support system to all European farmers to better comply with applicable environmental regulation and improve their overall farm management. The system is the Farm Sustainability Tool (FaST), a free and open source digital tool, using EU space data and services, aimed at reaching all farmers across the European Union.
23. Compile and make accessible in a digital format all main obligations on nutrient management stemming from EU law to limit the environmental footprint of farming activities
This action was put on hold following postponement of the Integrated Nutrient Management Action Plan.
24. Create a Zero Pollution contribution to the European Green Deal Dataspace to improve data availability
Completed
More information:
Contract signed after call of the Digital Europe Programme on the Green Deal dataspace, see Funding and Tenders portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal (europa.eu) and under topic: #DIGITAL-2024-CLOUD-AI-06-GREENDEAL.
Examples:
- European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) (europa.eu)
- IPCheM Portal (europa.eu)
- Proposal on ‘One substance, one assessment’ chemicals assessment reform (europa.eu) establishes a Common Data Platform and introduces a ‘one-stop shop’ access to data on chemicals.
The GREAT project, funded by the Digital Europe Programme, focuses on defining use-cases for the Green Deal Data Space, including Mercury (Hg) levels in the environment. It utilises the GOS4M-KH system to provide data on Mercury concentration from past and ongoing campaigns, as well as identifying emission sources. In the future, this data will support two key services within the Green Deal Data Space: simulating Mercury reduction through policy actions and assessing Mercury-related health risks for vulnerable populations.
The project also collaborates with EMODnet Chemistry, which generates standardized data for various marine descriptors, crucial for EU marine policies like the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Water Framework Directive, and Maritime Spatial Planning Directive.
The AD4GD project focuses on monitoring small urban lakes that are not part of the EU water framework directive. These lakes are subject to diverse stressors such as an increasing number of droughts during summertime and high nutrient inputs. The project uses EO data (Sentinel 2), online oxygen sensors and citizen-generated data to develop automated methods for assessing water quality and quantity, along with their long-term trends.
25. Create Destination Earth to develop a very high precision digital model of the Earth with Copernicus data as key building block to monitor the state of air, freshwaters, seas and soil
Completed
Destination Earth is Exploring ECMWF’s digital twins’ applications for air quality analysis and forecasts. The tight correlation between air quality and weather means that extreme weather events such as heatwaves and droughts, are often accompanied by extreme events of air pollution.
The application will deliver a demonstrator of an interactive air quality forecasting system and an assessment tool on the basis of different anthropogenic emission scenarios. Simulations will have 1 km horizontal resolution. For reference, current state-of-the-art operational air quality models such as the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) have a resolution of 10 km, for the regional European model and about 40 km in the global model.
More information:
- Destination Earth | Shaping Europe’s digital future
- European Digital Twin of the Ocean (European DTO)
26. Improved training and educational support on environmental risks including pharmaceuticals
Ongoing (advanced)
- Through tailored EU training modules for healthcare and other social care sector workers
- Guidelines for healthcare professionals on the prudent use of pharmaceuticals and support to include environmental aspects in training and professional development programmes
- Training and educational support for climate, environment, and health-conscious professionals and economic operators.
More information:
Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (finalised by Working Group on pharmaceuticals in the environment established under Pharmaceutical committee by end-March 2024) includes 2 actions:
- Promote the development of guidelines for healthcare professionals on the prudent use of pharmaceuticals posing a risk to or via the environment.
- Explore, in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, how environmental aspects could become part of medical training and professional development programmes.
Proposals for revision of EU pharmaceutical legislation
27. Advance international cooperation on black carbon policies to reduce climate change impacts and improve air quality
Completed
The Arctic Black Carbon impacting on Climate and Air Pollution project (ABC-iCAP), built on successful work under a preceding project (EUA-BCA) and ran till end-2023. The focus of the project was on stakeholder engagement, awareness building and knowledge sharing. It continued to address the sources of black carbon that are of particular relevance to the Arctic, i.e., sources associated with gas flaring, wildfires / open burning, transport and residential heating. The project was implemented by Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Secretariat in cooperation with Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL).
The EU and project partners presented outputs to international partners, including under the UNECE Air Convention. It is further noted that under the Convention, Parties have recently decided to open a revision process in respect of the Gothenburg Protocol. In the context of revision discussions, black carbon is already an identified area of interest for Parties. The revision process will commence this year and is expected to strengthen efforts to reduce air pollution in Europe and North America.
- AMAP projects: The EU Action on Black Carbon
28. Support global action on the export of end-of-life and used vehicles
Ongoing (advanced)
More information:
- Proposal for a Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles (europa.eu)
- Collaboration with UNEP on the Used Vehicles and Clean Fuels Programme. Exploration of joint initiatives at the global level by major exporters during 2023 as a follow-up of UNEA5 resolution on Circular Economy that addresses used vehicles and a continuation of UNEP’s work, and in preparations for UNEA6 in 2024
29. Support initiatives to better monitor and manage international trade for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste batteries
Ongoing (advanced)
More information:
- Activities are ongoing under the UN Basel Convention including the implementation of the recently adopted exporting ban for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and the launch of the update of technical guidelines on environmental sound management of waste batteries.
30. Support a global initiative to end informal recycling of used lead acid batteries
Ongoing (advanced)
More information:
- Under the leadership of G7 a workshop on Appraisal and Stocktaking of Actions to reduce Lead Poisoning in Low- and Middle-Income Countries is under preparation.
- The UN Basel Convention launched the update of technical guidelines on environmental sound management of waste lead acid batteries.
31. Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Reports
Completed
More information:
- First Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report 2022 (COM(2022) 674).
- Second Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report 2025 (paper report)
The first Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report was presented at the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Conference on 14 December 2022
32. Develop a ‘European Environment and Health Atlas’
Completed
More information:
- Environment and Health Atlas
- EEA: Environment and Health
- An EEA briefing on pollution and cancer was launched in June 2021
The second Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report was presented at the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Conference on 3 March 2025.
33. Launch the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform (including thematic hubs, e.g. on digital solutions, clean air tech, soil pollution)
Completed
More information: Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform.
The Platform is launched and several meetings have taken place:
- 1st ZPSP Meeting: 16 December 2021
- 2nd ZPSP Meeting: 25 April 2022
- 3rd ZPSP Meeting: 11 October 2022
- 4th ZPSP Meeting: 20 April 2023
- 5th ZPSP Meeting: 9 November 2023
- 6th ZPSP Meeting: 18 April 2024