Zero pollution monitoring and outlook

Water

The European Union's commitment to a Zero Pollution future

In 2021, the European Union adopted the Zero Pollution Action Plan, pledging to achieve a zero pollution vision by 2050, where air, water, and soil pollution are reduced to levels no longer harmful to health and natural ecosystems. To achieve this ambitious goal, the EU has set key targets for 2030, including reducing premature deaths from air pollution by 55%, minimizing waste generation, and decreasing nutrient losses, plastic litter and chemical pesticide use by 50%.

Clean water in a wastewater treatment plant (© Kùmo - stock.adobe.com)

Monitoring progress: the Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report

Every two years, the European Commission publishes the Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook (ZPMO) report to track progress towards these goals. The latest edition of the ZPMO report (Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook 2025), published by the JRC and the European Environmental Agency (EEA), provides an update on the current state of pollution in the EU, assesses trends over the past years, and evaluates the likelihood of achieving the 2030 zero pollution targets.

Key findings and recommendations of ZPMO 2025

The latest ZPMO report highlights progress in areas like reducing air pollution and pesticide use, but also identifies significant challenges in meeting targets related to transport noise, nutrient losses, and microplastic emissions. The report emphasizes the need for full implementation and enforcement of environmental legislation, as well as the importance of addressing the EU's high levels of consumption and promoting a circular economy.