On 7 November, Renew Europe CoR member Frida Nilsson hosted the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform to discuss how local and regional authorities and stakeholders can reduce air, water, and soil pollution by 2050.

As part of the EU soil strategy for 2023, the European Commission has proposed a new critical Soil Monitoring Law to ensure a high level of environmental and health protection and maintain healthy soil in the EU.

The Platform, part of activities around the Green Deal Going Local initiative in the Committee of the Regions, showcased perspectives from panelists and online participants, including local and regional authorities and stakeholders which are closest to the ‘field of action’.

“The implementation of future soil monitoring and resilience laws will happen at the local and regional level, and the quality of implementation will decide whether the legislation will succeed or not,” said Nilsson, member of the municipal council of Lidköping, Sweden.

“Soil is key for agriculture – I know this as a farmer. At the same time with so much diversity, flexibility and subsidiarity is needed. Local and regional authorities are all convinced we must act, but to do so we need resources and availability of the resources offered by the EU.”

“In mobilising resources at the local level, we can deliver policies that don’t increase red tape. So when discussing the right governing structures, resources and capabilities, it’s not a question of if, but of how we need to act.”

➡Supporting #ZeroPollution Platform, Frida Nilsson said: “Implementation of future soil monitoring & resilience laws happen at local/regional level; the quality of implementation will decide whether legislation will succeed or not”#EuGreenDeal @EU_CoR https://t.co/KkmJcuaURw

— Renew Europe CoR (@RenewEuropeCoR) November 9, 2023