Many things have been said about the EU’s 2050 ambitions and the European Green Deal. It is also important to realize net-zero emissions. How does the EUs Zero Pollution Action Plan integrate into these efforts.
The European Green Deal is based on a variety of ambitious initiatives. The Zero Pollution Action Plan is an important part of the European Green Deal. It provides a roadmap towards the Zero Pollution Action Plan. preventing significant pollution impacton our health, and our ecosystems.
The action plan is compatible with many other policy measures under European Green Deal, including Farm to Fork, Circular Economy Action Plan and Biodiversity Strategy. It also integrates with the Soil Thematic Strategy, Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and Farm to Fork. The key objective of the plan is to embed pollution prevention in all relevant policy areas.
While Climate changeWhile it is not within the scope of Zero Pollution Action Plan specifically, it is clear to see that achieving the goals of the action plan will help move closer to net zero objectives and vice versa.
The Zero Pollution Action Plan supports international agendas like the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations, with the action plans acknowledging that Pollution doesn’t stop at bordersThis is because, for example, Europe’s consumption habits and waste management practices have an impact on global pollution levels.
What specifically does the Zero Pollution Action Plan include?
Although it is a broad topic and difficult for people to define, the main objective is to encourage and support. All relevant EU policies should include pollution prevention. Other important elements of the plan are Addressing inequalitiesin exposure to pollution, better enforcement, collective action, and changes across society.
The action plan recognizes that to achieve these ambitions, we must ensure that policy actions are based on them. Pollution prevention at the sourceConcepts like remediation and elimination of environmental pollution are less sustainable than long-term solutions.
The plan includes a detailed list of actions that must be taken to achieve the zero pollution ambition, along with timeframes. It also identifies nine Flagships actions. Flagship 1 is, for example, reducing health inequalities by zero pollution.
The overall timeline for the action plan is 2050. However the plan also includes targets to 2030 to help get some momentum in achieving zero pollution.
What role does the EEA play in the Zero Pollution Action Plan
Effective communication is key. Keep an eye on the progressTo achieve the zero pollution ambition, we must first understand where we are doing well, where we are making slow progress and where we need more knowledge. This will enable us to achieve the ambition of the plans over the next few years.
The action plan calls for the EEA to produce a report together with the European Commission Joint Research Centre JRC. Zero Pollution Monitoring & Outlook Assessment. The EEA is responsible for the preparation and delivery of the monitoring assessments. The first assessment will be delivered in late 2022, followed by a follow up assessment in 2024.
This assessment will give an integrated appraisal of current pollution trends and assess whether the EU is in good shape to meet the specific zero-pollution targets for 2030 and other existing policy targets. The assessment will also take into account the longer-term targets towards 2050.
How will the EEA monitor progress in this area?
As a result, our assessment for later in the year will act as a BaselineFuture progress can be measured against these indicators. The report will be based upon available indicators that inform us about recent trends in pollution emissions, and their impacts. This information will allow us to make an initial assessment of whether we are on track for achieving the 2030 targets. We can also determine if our travel patterns in other areas align with current policy objectives.
Our analysis will likely reveal areas where our knowledge is lacking and where we need to create better indicators and information to use in future assessments. To help us i, we will also make use of other sources of information, such as country-specific assessments and research outputs.Dentify emerging issuesIt will also provide early warnings about key future issues that need to be addressed.
A second assessment will be completed in 2024. It will build on the 2022 Report and include additional indicators and information to improve our understanding of progress towards the zero pollution goals. The European Commission will use the results to develop policy briefs that will guide and inform future pollution-related policies.
How realistic is it to think that we will ever reach a zero level in pollution?
The Zero Pollution Action Plan sets a high bar and many might be skeptical about the possibility of zero pollution. This sets a high bar and provides a clear vision. We need more systemic changeA more holistic approach to addressing pollution, and its effects, is recommended.
We are already operating at the limits of the planet’s resources. Our health and the health of our ecosystems are negatively affected by air, soil, and water pollution. Studies like the IPBES global assessment for biodiversity and ecosystems service show that our current human activity is having a detrimental impact on the ecosystems we depend on. This is clearly not sustainable. If we want to be a more sustainable society, we must work hard to achieve the Zero Pollution Action Plan’s objectives.
Ian Marnane
Expert from the EEA on environment, health, and well-being