2030 zero-pollution targets: where does the EU stand?
In March 2025 the Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) published the second Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook report, which provides an overview of the EU’s work to meet the 2030 zero pollution targets.
The reports show that, despite the EU policies implemented in the last years have contributed to reducing air pollution, pesticide use and plastic litter at sea, the pollution levels are still too high. Harmful noise, microplastic releases into the environment, nutrient pollution and waste generation are the main items to tackle furhter if the EU wants to achieve its 2030 pollution reduction targets. In addition, ongoing pollution, particularly from ammonia and nitrogen oxides, continues to threaten EU ecosystems and the number of deaths caused by polluted air remains high.
Morover, the report recommends to include zero pollution principles into all policies and efforts taken at all levels to ensure further progress, while fostering the EU’s circular economy and, thus, alleviate pressures on ecosystems and human health.
At the current stage, on the legislative front, the EU has already taken steps with the revisions of the Industrial Emissions Directive, the Ambient Air Quality Directive, the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, the Waste Framework Directive, the Water Framework Directive and the Mercury Regulation. Furthermore, the new Nature Restoration Regulation will further enhace actions to reduce pollution pressures on ecosystems, and increase overall ecosystem resilience.
The report comes along with the first Zero Pollution Dashboard, which shows the progress made by EU regions and all capital cities in achieving cleaner air, water and soil.
The dashboard highlights 15 regions across Austria, Finland, France, Germany and Sweden which currently boast the lowest pollution levels and it compares regions with each other and with the EU average. The comparison is based on several environmental pollution indicators that address health, ecosystem protection and biodiversity, as well as production and consumption.
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