The Road towards a Clean Future
Key takeaways from the renewed Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform meeting.
Europe’s journey towards zero pollution requires bold ambition, concrete local action, and collaboration at every level. Renewing the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Commission brought together public authorities, businesses, civil society, researchers and regional leaders to turn commitments on air, water and soil pollution into practical solutions. Co-chairing for the Committee of the Regions, Henna Partanen, Greens and Progressives member, led discussions with citizens’ rights at the forefront:
“The European Committee of the Regions has recently reaffirmed its strong commitment to the Zero Pollution Ambition and the importance of the Polluter Pays Principle. If the polluter does not pay, often it is the local community that has to pick up the bill.”
The meeting showed that clean environments and healthy communities go hand in hand, with cities and regions central to delivering cleaner air, less noise and restored ecosystems while ensuring that no community is left behind, regardless of where they start.
In this sense, Henna Partanen also emphasised the necessity of recognising diverse local contexts:
“Success stories are not just the best performers in absolute terms, but also those that have obtained the best improvements, even when starting from relatively low positions.”
Participants examined the key elements needed for effective implementation, including mobilising private investment, fostering industrial innovation, digitalising the water sector and addressing green skills shortages. Discussions also touched upon the disproportionate social impact of pollution, underscoring that lower-income and vulnerable groups often face the highest health burdens, making pollution prevention an urgent matter of social and intergenerational justice.
Looking ahead, the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions will co-host the 1st European Zero Pollution Forum on 7 December 2026, featuring the official launch of the 3rd Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook.
