Brussels, 3 March 2025
Remarks by Commissioner Roswall at the press conference on the results of the second Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook and fourth Clean Air Outlook reports
“Check against delivery”
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very happy to be here today, together with Leena, to speak about a topic that is very important for all of us, but that we maybe speak too little about. I want to speak about pollution and our journey towards zero pollution.
We know that, in the next decade, 4 out of the 10 most severe global threats are environmental risks. Pollution, as one such risk, affects human health more than any other environmental cause. Air pollution leads to around 250,000 premature deaths every year in the EU. 17% of fatal lung cancers are related to air pollution. The impact on our economy is huge. Air pollution causes damages of up to € 2,000 per person, per year.
Mercury pollution in the air seeps back in our soil and water. But also many other forms of pollution affect people’s health. Excessive noise pollution from traffic increases the chances of strokes and heart disease. Microplastic pollution is a problem. Babies are increasingly exposed to the risk of microplastics even before they are born. And pollution from forever chemicals like PFAS also poses growing risks. So we have social, environmental and economic reasons to move to a world without pollution by 2050. This is only one generation away. We need to progress fast.
The European Commission has already taken action on health for citizens. A lot of work has been done. Since 2016, we have updated air pollution targets for 2030. In 2022, we proposed new rules to improve air quality and better protect EU citizens. And this is important not only for human health, but also for businesses. They need a clean environment, too.
To take stock, we are presenting two reports today: The Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook report and the Clean Air Outlook report. We are also launching a new digital tool, the Zero Pollution Dashboard. This dashboard is the very first time that we launch an online tool with up-to-date information about pollution that zooms in on European regions and cities. For example, you can compare the region where you are from with other regions in your country. This will offer transparency to citizens, scientists, policy makers and businesses alike.
I mentioned the two reports that are published today. The findings are clear. The good news is that we are overall heading in the right direction. Air quality has improved. Pesticide use has decreased. Antimicrobial use is also decreasing. And for the first time we are recording a decline in plastic litter on our beaches. That is all encouraging.
Yet challenges remain, for example in the areas of transport and waste management. Microplastics, noise pollution, and chemical pollutants have to be tackled. ‘Forever chemicals’ like PFAS are a growing public health concern and a very present topic, and rightly so, in the public debate.
Exposure to some chemicals has decreased, which is, of course, positive. However, sometimes those substances are replaced by alternatives that are equally toxic. Our work on REACH and on PFAS will be key to better protect human health and the environment from new risks, while at the same time simplifying the frameworks.
So what do we intend to do with those results from a policy perspective?
My approach focuses on five pillars: implementation, integration, international cooperation, investments and innovation.
First, implementation. A lot of legislation is already in place. But the reports clearly show that we could do better in terms of implementation. I look forward to working with Member States to support them in their efforts. This will also be an important topic for my implementation dialogues with Member States.
Second, we have to integrate zero pollution into other relevant policies. This includes the European Water Resilience Strategy. It includes the Chemicals Industry Package. The Circular Economy Act will shift our economy from linear to circular. This is about creating a change in mindset to reduce resource-related pollution while seizing new business opportunities and scaling up innovation. We have to look at agricultural policy too, making farmers part of the solution. The recently adopted Vision for Agriculture and Food is a useful starting point.
Third, international cooperation is vital. Pollution knows no borders. Think about the microplastics in our rivers and oceans. It is our responsibility to find solutions to global problems together, no matter how challenging the current international context is. We should therefore never give up on the multilateral agenda. We made good progress on the biodiversity agenda in Rome last week. And me and the whole College was in India – and one of the topics I discussed with my counterpart was more cooperation on air quality.
Fourth, investments. Investing in zero-pollution goes hand in hand with meeting our other objectives like climate neutrality and resource efficiency. The returns on investment from tackling air pollution are estimated at 700%. It is a no-brainer. Initiatives like the Competitiveness Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal will encourage the circular economy. This will drive demand for secondary materials, with less pollution coming from resource use or waste, and at the same time boost our competitive economic model based on clean tech and low carbon emissions.
Fifth, zero pollution is an opportunity for innovation in Europe. We have many champions in clean technologies, and we have the pipeline to create many more. This is a sector that generally outperforms the wider economy.
Finally, our legislation must set clear, ambitious, and achievable standards. We want to minimise administrative burden. Simplification will be key across the board. For that we need to work closely together with all partners.
We are just coming from a meeting of the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform. We organise this together with the Committee of the Regions. It is a valuable partnership as our regions and cities are at the forefront of the zero-pollution transformation. So this dialogue is incredibly useful.
Only together, can we achieve clean air, water, and soil. These are foundations for a sustainable future and shared prosperity.
Thank you.
Source – EU Commission
EU Commissioner Roswall’s keynote address at the 7th Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform meeting
Brussels, 3 March 2025
“Check against delivery”
Thank you, Marieke and Florika, for your kind introduction and for moderating this event. I am very pleased about this very close cooperation we have with the Committee of the Regions on this important matter.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a privilege to join this Platform, early in my mandate. This is an important fully dedicated to the topic of zero pollution.
Clean air, clean water, clean soil matter to us as citizens, parents and grandparents. But it matters to companies too. Our farming community is the obvious example. Without clean water and fertile soil, no sustainable food production. But clean resources matter to other companies as well.
From my perspective, the zero pollution objective presents challenges, but also opportunities. While pollution in our air, water, and soil adversely affects health, the environment, and the economy, innovative solutions offer a path to cleaner, circular growth and enhanced competitiveness in Europe. By uniting public authorities, businesses, and civil society, we can collectively address these issues and seize the benefits of a zero-pollution future.
To achieve this, we need to collectively change our mindsets: the zero pollution agenda should not be considered a burden and a threat, but an agenda that can bring benefits to all.
With our zero pollution 2030 targets in place, we are nearly halfway there. This is the moment to assess progress and chart the way forward.
I’m grateful to the European Environment Agency and the Joint Research Centre for their work on the Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report. It provides a strong basis for further work. We are also presenting today the 4th Clean Air Outlook. And we are launching for the very first time a Zero Pollution Dashboard, offering insights on progress across EU regions and capital cities.
Lena, Bernard, and Veronica will present key findings, so allow me to focus on the big picture and what it means for EU policy.
Pollution is the biggest environmental threat to human health. Air pollution alone causes around 250,000 premature deaths each year. Every life lost is one life too many and further work needs to be done. Moreover, pollution places a massive financial burden on EU taxpayers, it costs them up to €2000 per year.
The good news is that we have made significant progress. Over the past 30 years, air pollution deaths have fallen from 1 million to 250,000, thanks to cleaner air and reduced particulate matter. The 4th Clean Air Outlook confirms we are on track to meet 2030 air quality targets, with nearly every EU region improving since 2016. Change is not just possible—it’s happening.
Yet, the Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook reminds us that challenges remain. Nearly half of our 2030 targets are within reach, particularly on pesticides, antimicrobials, and beach litter. But air pollution still exceeds safe levels in many areas.
Plastic pollution continues to rise, while microplastics and ‘forever chemicals’ like PFAS pose growing health and environmental risks. Babies are increasingly exposed to the risk of microplastics even before they are born.
To close the gap, Member States must step up efforts on noise pollution, nitrogen deposition, and waste. Our consumption of natural resources remains a major driver of pollution—making the transition to a circular economy more urgent than ever.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Europeans demand action on pollution—78% are concerned about harmful chemicals. We must show them we take this seriously by making pollution a thing of the past.
My approach is built on five pillars: implementation, integration, international cooperation, investments and innovation.
First, implementation. A lot of legislation is already in place. And we have made progress thanks to that, I will come back to that. But the reports clearly show that we should be better at implementing it. For example, the EU Water Package highlighted major gaps, from nutrients to persistent chemicals. I will have implementation dialogues with Member States to support them in this task.
Second, we have to integrate zero pollution into other relevant policies. Key priorities include the European Water Resilience Strategy, the Chemicals Industry Package, and the Circular Economy Act. We have to look at agricultural policy too, making farmers part of the solution. The Vision for Agriculture and Food is a useful starting point.
Third, international cooperation. I just arrived back from India and one of the things we discussed was how to increase our cooperation. Pollution knows no borders. We should aim to find solutions to global problems together with our international partners, no matter how challenging the current international context is. We cannot solve global issues alone.
Fourth, investments. Investing in zero-pollution goes hand in hand with meeting our other objectives like climate neutrality and resource efficiency. The returns on investment from tackling air pollution are estimated at 700%. It’s a no-brainer, it is a must.
Fifth, zero pollution is an opportunity for innovation in Europe. We have many champions in clean technologies and we have the pipeline to create many more. This is a sector that generally outperforms the wider economy.
Initiatives such as the Competitiveness Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal will encourage the circular economy. This will drive demand for secondary materials, with less pollution coming from resource use or waste. And at the same time it will boost our competitive economic model based on clean tech and low carbon emission.
The path is clear: implementation, integration, international cooperation, investments and innovation. It is time to deliver.
Cities and regions are at the forefront of sustainability. Through initiatives like the Green City Accord, 117 cities have committed to ambitious 2030 goals, driving progress in air quality, water, biodiversity, waste, and noise reduction.
Results speak for themselves: 90% of cities meet EU air quality standards for particulate matter, and nearly all regions—97%—have improved air quality since 2016. Today, we launch for the first time a Zero Pollution Dashboard for EU regions and capitals. Use it, explore it, and help us improve it.
Zero pollution once seemed like a dream—today, it is within reach. With just one generation until 2050, we must move fast and together. Science, policy, industry, civil society and people all have a role to play, and this Platform will be instrumental to support achievement of Zero Pollution objectives.
I will stay committed. I invite you all to keep the dialogue ongoing.
Thank you, and I wish you a productive day.
Source – EU Commission