The European Commission (EC) has announced a new plan to continue reducing air, soil and water pollution from sectors, such as industry and agriculture. The plan's ambition is that by mid-2050, all pollution, such as emissions of harmful substances, must be reduced to levels that are no longer harmful to human health and the climate.
According to Bloomberg, the plan says that the number of deaths from air pollution must be reduced by 55 per cent by mid-2030. Also, by that time, three-quarters of all European soils must be classified as healthy and plastic waste in the sea must be reduced by 50%.
For the time being, it is unclear how exactly the environmental benefits are to be achieved; the plan does not describe any explicit measures, but it does set objectives for the Commission. For example, the EC proposes an objective targeted at the European agricultural sector, including new legislation and regulations to limit ammonia emissions from livestock farming.
Furthermore, according to the Commission, more nature urgently needs to be protected against pollution. The number of ecosystems no longer affected by polluted air must be increased by 25%.
The EC's plans also include proposals concerning the transport sector. New cars must meet stricter requirements than before for nitrogen, particulate and CO₂ emissions.
The plans are part of the European Green Deal, led by European Commissioner Frans Timmermans, to make the European economy climate-neutral by the middle of the 21st century.
