SOS-Zeropol2030: The EU Zero Pollution Ambition april 2023

Effectively addressing marine pollution is challenging, due to its diverse emission sources, involving multiple human activities and various entry routes into the sea. Marine pollution is also a transboundary problem, as it neither recognizes nor respects territorial boundaries. Furthermore, certain forms of pollution have the potential to spread over vast distances, extending well beyond their original entry points. The European Green Deal will improve the well-being and health of citizens and …

Effectively addressing marine pollution is challenging, due to its diverse emission sources, involving multiple human activities and various entry routes into the sea. Marine pollution is also a transboundary problem, as it neither recognizes nor respects territorial boundaries. Furthermore, certain forms of pollution have the potential to spread over vast distances, extending well beyond their original entry points. The European Green Deal will improve the well-being and health of citizens and future generations by, amongst others, creating a toxic-free environment. To protect Europe’s citizens and ecosystems, the EU needs to better monitor, report, prevent and remedy pollution from
air, water, soil, and consumer products. In 2021, the Commission adopted the Zero Pollution Action Plan for air, water and soil to address (marine) pollution in a more holistic and integrated manner. The legal framework for addressing marine pollution is clearly established in existing policies, including the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (EIA), the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the Marine
Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), and the Waste Framework Directive. The overall aim of SOS-ZEROPOL2030 is to develop a holistic zero pollution framework which can help guide the EU towards achieving zero pollution in European seas by 2030, focusing on the four priority pollutants: microplastics, underwater noise, PFASs and nutrients. This SOS-ZEROPOL2030 document, entitled ‘The EU Zero Pollution Ambition’, provides an overview of the policy documents and legislation that make up the environmental pollution policy framework in Europe. It aims to create an understanding of the current environmental status and efforts made by Member States to assess the environmental status of European waters. Additionally, this document seeks to gain insights into the feasibility of the proposed EU environmental goals and targets, while providing initial stepping stones for governance of selected priority pollutants in European waters.