The EU Moves Towards Zero Pollution Regions

The European Commission has launched a new initiative under its Zero Pollution Action Plan to support the creation of Zero Pollution Regions across Europe. The goal? Help local and regional authorities reduce pollution and enhance the well-being of citizens through concrete, place-based action.

Pollution remains one of the biggest environmental threats to human health, with air, water, and soil pollution responsible for over 10% of premature deaths worldwide. The EU’s strategy aims to reduce pollution to levels no longer harmful to human health and natural ecosystems—a core target of the European Green Deal.

🌍 What are Zero Pollution Regions?
Zero Pollution Regions are areas that commit to ambitious, integrated actions to reduce pollution across multiple sectors—including transport, industry, agriculture, and housing. The Commission’s pilot initiative, launched in 2023, selected 9 frontrunner regions, such as Catalonia (ES), Île-de-France (FR), and West Macedonia (EL), to act as test beds for developing and scaling successful models.

📌 Key objectives include:

• Cleaner air, water, and soil
• Reduced exposure to noise, chemicals, and waste
• Improved health and quality of life
• Stronger links between environmental and social justice goals

🛠 Support from the EU includes:

• Technical assistance and tailored guidance
• Capacity-building and peer learning among regions
• Access to funding instruments such as LIFE, Cohesion Policy funds, and Horizon Europe
• Tools for monitoring and measuring progress through zero pollution indicators

Learn more about the initiative