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, thereby creating a toxic-free environment.

This is translated into key 2030 targets to speed up reducing 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 action plan aims to strengthen the EU green, digital and economic leadership, whilst creating a healthier, socially fairer Europe and planet. It provides a compass to mainstream pollution prevention in all relevant EU policies, to step up implementation of the relevant EU legislation and to identify possible gaps.

The European Green Deal announced headline actions on zero pollution.

• Chemical strategy for sustainability-  to better protect citizens and the environment against hazardous chemicals.
• Zero pollution action plan for water, air and soil - to better prevent, remedy, monitor and report on pollution.
• Revising measures to address pollution from large industrial installations - to ensure they are consistent with climate, energy and circular economy policies.

You can track the progress of the individual flagships and actions announced in the Zero Pollution Action Plan here.