“We do have quite the task at hand, but it starts at the household level” says in this interview Marieke Schouten (NL/Greens), Alderman of the municipality of Nieuwegein and rapporteur of the European Committee of the Regions’ opinion on the ‘EU Action Plan: Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil’ – adopted at the CoR’s plenary session on 27 January 2022. The co-chair of the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform defends the concept of 'One Health' and the need to support local and regional authorities to deliver solutions adapted to each territory.

Let us begin with the concept of pollution. Nowadays, to talk about pollution is to talk about the contamination of our environment, and anyone can think of many forms of pollution affecting air, water, and soil including chemicals, human practices and manmade products. However, is there a single culprit or can we identify other sources of pollution?

It is difficult to think of only one source of pollution. However, there are quite a few. For instance, when we talk about air, the biggest pollutant comes from traffic but there is also pollution coming from industrial practices. Now, for water, although we see pollution coming from industrial practices, the Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, are very well know substances that we use daily in our housekeeping and our households. For soil, there is pollution because of certain agricultural practices and the use of pesticides. So, at the end, there are different threats coming from several factors, but fortunately, there is a growing awareness amongst all of us as citizens, of the effects of pollution.

In that sense, is it possible to have the same approach to tackle the multiple damages that pollution has on air, water, and soil?

From my experience and speaking from the municipality of Nieuwegein, I can say that different problems require different approaches. We are a municipality of around 65.000 inhabitants, we border with the city of Utrecht, we are surrounded by motorways, busy canals, and some rivers. This means that we have loads of traffic around not just on the water but on the road, and that also shows that the main source of pollution comes from traffic. Now, if we think of the east of the Netherlands, chicken or pig’s farms are the main source. On the other hand, if we travel west of the Netherlands, then we have the coastal areas where the steel industry is the culprit. Therefore, it is not possible to approach several problems with one common solution. The European Union has its own challenges, each nation does, but this doesn’t mean that the pollution of air, water, and soil cannot be addressed with one goal. The common goal is that they all must be addressed at the source. And that’s the core of the EU Action Plan towards a zero pollution for air, water, and soil.

It is interesting what you have mentioned addressing pollution at the source. Are there any ongoing projects, ideas, initiatives, or mechanisms et the EU level to help overcome or mitigate the effects of pollution?

Yes, there are. And I’m glad you asked because there are many already and we have some new ones. For instance, the European Commission in cooperation with the European Committee of the Regions has created the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform. The Platform is for stakeholders from the civil society, from the industrial sector, the academic world, and many others, to develop strategies that will help the local and regional communities in the race to achieve a zero pollution ambition. Another one, is an action which was discussed during the last CoR plenary session, and that is on the automotive industry, and how this industry should take a step further in addressing Euro7 rather than Euro6 because this means that it makes our automobiles even cleaner than they already are. Finally, the third one I can think of is a very important one, and that relates to stopping the emissions of synthetic chemicals, the so-called Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), in our rivers and our soils. PFAS are often seen as a ‘blessing in disguise,’ and it is a rather ironic situation because we have used PFAS in so many ways and enjoyed its benefits without knowing the dark side of it. I think there is only one way to stop that dark side and that is by completely stopping its use. And let’s not forget that pollution doesn’t stop at borders. It is a problem that we all face, but which needs local solutions that are adapted to the specificities of every territory.  

Indeed, it is a global problem that cannot be addressed in a centralised way. However, will a global or European approach be enough, when we have so many different and varying challenges at different levels?

It is easier to point a finger at others when it comes to problems, but the magnitude of the problem that we are seeing does not allow us to act as individuals but as a collective. Yes, we do have quite the task at hand, but it starts at the household level. More and more we also see industry being awareness and engaged - and that brings hope! That is what we really need: the willingness to act and being aware that those environmental problems affect all of us. We have the tools to reduce pollution and restore our ecosystems, and we must now put them into practice.

Indeed, small actions can have a huge impact. Especially when referring to ecosystems, which are fundamental to mitigate the impact of climate change. There is an alarming increase in pollution that affect human but also animal health. Biodiversity is paying the toll of pollution, making the environment go rogue at living species. Could you explain further what the concept of ‘'One Health’ implies?

The principle of 'One Health' acknowledges the connection between human and biodiversity health. It recognises our inter-connectedness, and that is very important. Expanding the amount of green and blue space in our municipalities is good for our health, for the health of the living world, and for society. The post-pandemic recovery should focus on acknowledging the interconnectedness between human, environmental and animal health. We need to reduce pollution to levels that do not harm health at all, which means taking measures to improve the quality of our soil, air, and water. Current levels of pollution pose a real threat on human health and natural ecosystems, and the financial costs of not meeting our environmental targets – €55 billion a year – is huge. For instance, there is a lot of debate on the existence of new viruses. We talk about Corona, and we have seen its devastating effects in human health, but there are other emerging viruses of which we now know that have the chance of affecting animal health or biodiversity in general, and that have a big chance of getting transferred to humans. These connections between biodiversity and health are the ones we also need to be aware of, and work on.

To conclude, while following the concept of interconnectedness and knowing that pollution is not just linked to air but also to water and soil, you mentioned before the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform. All three aspects are interconnected, and they balance each other. Is the Platform’s approach to keep that balance? What is the purpose of the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform?

The Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform aims to develop strategies that will help local and regional communities in the race to achieve a zero pollution ambition. In the Platform, there is a mix of stakeholders and experts of different policy areas, such as health, agriculture, research and innovation, transport, digitalisation, and the environment. What it does is that it discusses issues of where the challenges are and how we can address them. And this may sound a bit cliché, but it is not. It is crucial. Therefore, if we talk about odour pollution, because that also exists, we know it relates to air quality, but it does not stop there. It also relates to people’s wellbeing. That is where the Platform plays its role. To bring together citizens, local and regional authorities, businesses and industries to accelerate the reduction of pollution in all its forms and shapes, working together to define a common vision – but also local solutions, on how to deliver the EU’s zero pollution objectives by sharing knowledge and good practices on a primary threat that affects us all.

For further information

You can listen to the interview in full on EU!Radio at the following link