On 3 March 2025, EuChemS participated in the 7th Zero Pollution Stakeholder Conference, where the European Commission presented the Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook 2025 report. The event served as a vital platform to assess progress under the European Green Deal and discuss future strategies for reducing pollution.
Co-published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Environment Agency (EEA), the biennial report tracks EU progress toward zero pollution goals across sectors.
Key insights
The report shows a mix of progress and persistent challenges. Improvements in air quality and reduced pesticide use are positive signs. However, pollution from agriculture, transport, and waste remains high. The EU’s resource consumption, especially through imported goods, continues to cause pollution beyond its borders.
It also highlights gaps in meeting targets, especially in noise pollution, nutrient runoff, and ammonia emissions, and calls for better indicators and data for areas like pesticide risk and microplastics.
Achieving long-term goals depends on fully implementing key regulations, such as the Industrial Emissions Directive, Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, and the Nature Restoration Regulation, and aligning policies with innovation and equity.
EuChemS’ role
By joining the conference, EuChemS reaffirmed its commitment to supporting science-informed EU policies and sustainable development. Engagement in such dialogues reflects our mission to advance chemistry for the benefit of society and the environment.
