Understanding Public and Stakeholder Risk Perceptions of Pollution in Europe
How do Europeans perceive pollution risks and what drives their support for environmental policies?
| January 16th, 2026 | News
How do Europeans perceive pollution risks and what drives their support for environmental policies?
The SOS-ZEROPOL2030 project has released Deliverable D2.3, presenting the results of an extensive public and stakeholder survey across Europe that sheds new light on how different forms of pollution are understood, prioritised, and acted upon.
The report focuses on four key environmental pressures central to the EU Zero Pollution ambition:
- Microplastics
- PFAS
- Eutrophication
- Underwater noise
Using a robust social-science framework, the study explores how risk perception, personal experience, knowledge, and socio-psychological factors influence both concern and support for pollution mitigation measures. Importantly, it distinguishes between the views of the general public and those of key stakeholder groups, including industry, government, NGOs, and researchers.
Key insights include:
- Clear differences in perceived urgency and risk across pollution types
- Strong links between perceived health and environmental impacts and policy support
- The importance of fairness, policy intrusiveness, and trust in shaping acceptance of measures
- Variations across countries and stakeholder groups that are highly relevant for policy design
By combining behavioural science with environmental policy analysis, this deliverable provides actionable insights for policymakers, helping to design more effective, socially acceptable, and targeted pollution prevention strategies.
The findings directly support SOS-ZEROPOL2030’s mission to accelerate the transition towards zero pollution, ensuring that future policies are not only scientifically sound but also socially supported.