SOS-ZEROPOL2030 (Horizon Europe funded)

SOS-ZEROPOL2030: the Source to Seas – Zero Pollution 2030 project aims to deliver a stakeholder led European Seas zero-pollution framework and places multi-stakeholder engagement at the heart of the project to guide a blue green transition and co-development of a holistic framework. The Co-developed zero-pollution framework will be informed by an interdisciplinary problem analysis, formulation of future scenarios and identification of short and long-term measures to achieve zero pollution. Broad and expert stakeholder input and knowledge will be sought and incorporated for identified priority issue pollutant groups: Nutrient Input, Chemical Contaminants, Marine Litter specifically microplastics and Underwater Noise. A benchmarking assessment of the policy targets and objectives for 2030-2050 and the current environmental state will allow the project to identify and reflect on the gaps between the current and the desired status and provide a better understanding of the major obstacles and drivers of effective pollution governance and associated enforcement. This will form the basis for a more detailed analysis of case study pollutants, the chemical contaminant PFAS and Tyre wear particles (TWPs), in three European Seas (NE Atlantic / Mediterranean / Black Sea). PFAS and TWPs pollutants have been selected because they are emerging and poorly regulated pollutants, have global emissions from multiple and disperse sources, relate to contamination of multiple environmental matrices, unclear responsibility for the pollutants, socially important, and associated risks are not yet fully elucidated. Regional Sea stakeholder engagement will use a Living Labs approach and an integrated regional pollutant assessment with the Case Study Pollutants. Stakeholder engagement is central to this project and the holistic research approach championed by SOS-ZEROPOL2030, emphasizes human behavior, socioeconomics, and governance; and is underpinned in knowledge about and understanding of current barriers to effective and efficient prevention, reduction, mitigation, and monitoring of marine pollution in European Seas.