Suggested Citation:

Kopke K., van Leeuwen J., Boteler B., Del Savio L.., Ruhl R., Vlachogianni T., Shivarov A., Strietman W.J., Booth A., Hendriksen A. (2026). SOS-Zeropol2030: Deliverable D5.6 Report of the zero-pollution parliament outlining the EU scenario to achieve zero pollution, 34 pp.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Zero Pollution Parliament, held in Brussels on the 18th and 19th of November in 2025, brought together 33 stakeholders from 16 European countries, representing research institutes, universities, NGOs, industry and private sector, as well as relevant EU, national, and international bodies. The event built on prior Regional Seas Living Labs held in the North-East Atlantic, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea regions, and included representatives from the Baltic Sea. The event engaged participants in structured, scenario-based discussions to explore pathways for achieving zero pollution in European seas.

Applying the CO-ACT (Challenges & Objectives – Alternative futures, Consequences & Trade-offs) participatory methodology, stakeholders evaluated the four project priority pollutant groups: nutrients, hazardous substances, microplastics, and underwater noise, and assessed cross-pollutant interactions. Within CO-ACT, the scenario analysis emphasised proactive, preventive approaches complemented by reactive risk-based measures, highlighting the importance of public sector leadership, responsible private sector engagement, and coordinated governance across local, national, and EU levels. Discussions focused on key drivers, barriers, and trade-offs, while exploring innovation, data integration, economic incentives, and awareness-raising as levers for effective action.

For nutrients, stakeholder recommendations focused on circular management, nature-based solutions, spatially targeted interventions, agricultural transition, and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) aligned funding. Hazardous substances stakeholder recommendations prioritised precautionary phase-out, ‘safer and sustainable by design’ alternatives, remediation, monitoring, and fair market conditions. Stakeholders recommended microplastics measures that address lifecycle emissions, infrastructure upgrades, eco-design, and cross-sectoral stakeholder engagement. Underwater noise stakeholders emphasised the need to raise more awareness, harmonise monitoring, as well as recommending a European Noise Ship Index and incremental regulatory and behavioural change. Cross-pollutant actions proposed by stakeholders highlighted integrated, ecosystem-based approaches, poly-pollutant risk assessment, shared data systems, and strengthening EU enforcement of measures.

The insights and outcomes of the Zero Pollution Parliament directly inform the development of the SOS-ZEROPOL2030 Strategic Zero Pollution Framework and Roadmap. By providing actionable, stakeholder-led guidance, the event demonstrates how multi-level, science-based, and socially robust strategies could accelerate Europe’s transition toward zero pollution in marine environments while fostering innovation, collaboration, and long-term resilience. Crucially, the Parliament highlighted the need for continuous engagement, adaptive governance, and measurable indicators to ensure that policy ambitions translate into tangible improvements for marine ecosystems, human health, and sustainable blue growth.