The Platform effectively mainstreams the Zero Pollution agenda. In particular, the Zero Pollution vision for 2050 is for air, water and soil pollution to be reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems, that respect the boundaries with which our planet can cope with, thereby creating a toxin-free environment. This is translated into key 2030 targets to speed up the reduction of pollution at source. These targets include: improving air quality to reduce the number of premature deaths caused by air pollution by 55%; improving water quality by reducing waste, plastic litter at sea (by 50%) and microplastics released into the environment (by 30%); improving soil quality by reducing nutrient losses and chemical pesticides’ use by 50%; reducing by 25% the EU ecosystems where air pollution threatens biodiversity; reducing the share of people chronically disturbed by transport noise by 30%, and significantly reducing waste generation and by 50% residual municipal waste.
The Zero Pollution action plan brings together stakeholders and experts of different policy areas, such as health, agriculture, research and innovation, transport, digitalisation and the environment. It focuses on creating co-ownership, promoting collaboration, and fostering integrated solutions to maximize synergies with decarbonisation and post-COVID 19 recovery efforts.
In this effort, EuChemS will approach the challenges from the angle of chemical sciences. Until now, six Zero Pollution Meetings took place. In addition, a conference was held in Brussels in December 2022 and a Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook meeting took place in January 2024. In every meeting EuChemS was present. At the conference, I had the honour of being invited to provide a statement about the situation that Europe is currently facing, regarding the chemical status of water air and soil. In my speech, I highlighted three key areas that should be considered, from a chemical standpoint. Firstly, the high rate of European groundwater and surface water bodies which failed to achieve good chemical status. Secondly, how waste reduction may cause other pollution-related issues due to waste burning, and lastly, I pointed out how the energy crisis may lead people to rely on hazardous heating materials, which is an issue that should be considered from a Zero Pollution standpoint. In addition, I highlighted the science policy activities of EuChemS during the statement I gave in the general debate of the UN water conference, which took place in March 2023, in New York. In this direction, EuChemS and its division of Chemistry and Environment continuously participates in consultation campaigns and provides its expertise in identifying problems and proposing solutions for the pressing environmental problems that not only Europe but the whole world is facing.
