The public consultation on the new EU Action Plan Towards a Zero Pollution Ambition for air, water and soil will be open from 11 November 2020 to 10 February 2021.

The EU’s zero pollution ambition aims to secure healthy ecosystems and a healthy living environment for Europeans.

The EU Action Plan intends to better prevent and remedy pollution from air, water, soil, and consumer products; mainstream the zero pollution ambition into all policy developments; further decouple economic growth from the increase of pollution and strengthen the links between environmental protection, sustainable development and people’s well-being.

Citizens and stakeholders are now welcome to express their views. Stakeholders include researchers, enterprises,  technology centers, funding agencies and ministries related with extractive industries, among others.

The purpose of the consultation is to gather views from citizens and stakeholders on an EU Action Plan “Towards a Zero Pollution Ambition for air, water and soil”. The European Green Deal announced that to protect Europe’s citizens and ecosystems, the EU needs to move towards a zero pollution ambition, and better prevent and remedy pollution from air, water, soil, and consumer products. To address these interlinked challenges, in 2021 the Commission will adopt a Zero Pollution Action Plan. Despite important improvements over the last decades, pollution continues to harm citizens and ecosystems. It causes multiple physical and mental diseases, and is one of the five main drivers of biodiversity loss. Pollution comes at a high price for society and ecosystems, including health-related costs  reduced yields, remediation costs and loss of ecosystem services.

It is foreseen the adoption of the EU Action Plan during the 2nd quarter of 2021, and from 31 May - 4 June 2021, the Green Week 2021 on the theme of zero pollution will take place.

All those interested in giving their opinion can contribute by answering the online questionnaire, available in many EU languages.  

Read all the information on the public consultation and access the questionnaire through the following link.