THE European Commission approves the EU Action Plan: “Towards zero pollution for air, water and soil”, reports the RES.
It sets out a comprehensive vision for 2050: a world in which pollution is reduced to levels that are no longer harmful to human health and natural ecosystems, as well as the steps to get there. The plan links all relevant EU policies to tackle and prevent pollution, with particular emphasis on how to use digital pollution tackle solutions. Revisions to relevant EU legislation are foreseen to identify gaps that still exist in EU legislation and where better implementation is needed to meet these legal obligations.
The Executive Vice-President of the European Green Agreement Frans Timmermans stated that “the Green Agreement aims to build a healthy planet for all. To provide a non-toxic environment for humans and planets, we must act now, “he said, adding that” this project will guide our work to get there. “New green technologies already here can help reduce pollution and offer new business opportunities.”
The Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginia Sinkevitsios, noted that “pollution environment “It negatively affects our health, especially the most vulnerable and socially disadvantaged groups, and is also one of the main factors in biodiversity loss.”
He added that “the EU’s commitment to leading the global fight against pollution is stronger than ever. “With the zero-pollution action plan, we will create a healthy living environment for Europeans, contribute to a resilient recovery and strengthen the transition to a clean and climate-neutral economy.”
To guide the EU towards the 2050 target for a healthy planet for healthy people, the Action Plan sets key targets for 2030 to reduce pollution at source, compared to the current situation.
Specifically:
* improve air quality to reduce the number of premature deaths caused by air pollution by 55%;
* improving water quality by reducing waste, plastic waste at sea (by 50%) and microplastics released into the environment (by 30%);
* improving soil quality by reducing nutrient losses and the use of chemical pesticides by 50%;
* 25% reduction in EU ecosystems where air pollution threatens biodiversity;
* 30% reduction in the share of people disturbed by transport noise for years, and
* significantly reducing waste production and by 50% residual municipal waste.
The project describes a series of flagship initiatives and actions, such as:
* align air quality standards closer to the latest World Health Organization recommendations,
* revision of water quality standards, including EU rivers and seas,
* reducing soil pollution and enhancing remediation,
* review of most EU waste legislation to adapt it to the principles of a clean and circular economy
* promotion of zero pollution from production and consumption,
* presenting a scoreboard on the green performance of EU regions in promoting zero pollution between regions,
* reducing health inequalities caused by the disproportionate share of harmful health effects that the most vulnerable now suffer from,
* reducing the EU’s external pollution footprint by limiting exports of products and waste that have harmful, toxic effects to third countries,
launching “Living Labs” for green digital solutions and smart zero pollution
* consolidation of EU zero-pollution knowledge centers and association of stakeholders in the zero-pollution platform,
* stronger enforcement of zero pollution, along with environmental and other principles.
This year’s EU Green Week, the largest annual environmental policy event, on 1 – 4 June, will allow citizens across the EU to discuss the issue of zero pollution in many ways at the Brussels General Conference, online and at more from 600 partner events.
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