This policy analysis outlines the international and regional policy frameworks for addressing pollution across air, water, and soil. Key international agreements include the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), which targets elimination or restriction of POPs in marine and coastal ecosystems, and the Basel Convention, which regulates hazardous waste movement to protect coastal and marine environments. For air quality, the WHO Air Quality Guidelines and the Gothenburg Protocol (administered by UNECE) set global and Northern Hemisphere targets, respectively, focusing on acidification, eutrophication, and ground-level ozone pollution.
At the EU level, the overarching "Zero Pollution Ambition for 2050" aims to ensure that pollution is no longer harmful to health and natural ecosystems by setting specific targets for air, water, and soil. The EU Zero Pollution Action Plan targets a 55% reduction in air pollution-related deaths, improved water quality by cutting plastic and microplastic waste, and enhanced soil quality by halving nutrient losses and chemical pesticide use. The plan also seeks to reduce threats to biodiversity from air pollution by 25% and cut waste generation by 50%.
The UK implements air quality standards through national regulations that set legal limits and require Air Quality Plans for exceedances. These regulations are aligned with EU and international standards, and satellite data is used alongside ground measurements for monitoring, although gaps remain in high-resolution local data.
Germany follows EU rules, with a National Air Pollution Control Programme for emissions reduction and soil protection legislation focused on contaminated sites. This legislation is being updated to align with the EU Soil Strategy and proposed Soil Monitoring Law, incorporating climate and biodiversity considerations.
In Italy, water quality is managed by both central and regional authorities. The central government sets policies in line with EU directives (such as the Water Framework Directive), while regional and river basin authorities enforce and monitor water quality, manage resources, and oversee ecosystem protection. Environmental agencies use Earth Observation (EO) data to monitor water quality in both inland and coastal waters
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Image: Blanketed Po Valley. Credit: contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2024), processed by ESA
