Reduce pollution risks and the negative impact of pollution from all sources by 2030, to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, considering cumulative effects, including:
by reducing excess nutrients lost to the environment by at least half, including through more efficient nutrient cycling and use;
by reducing the overall risk from pesticides and highly hazardous chemicals by at least half, including through integrated pest management, based on science, taking into account food security and livelihoods
by preventing, reducing, and working towards eliminating plastic pollution.
Introduction
Pollution poses a threat to both biodiversity and human health. Pollution can be highly visible, such as plastic litter and ghost fishing, or it can be invisible, like micro- or nanoplastics, environmental toxins—persistent and often man-made substances that bioaccumulate in the food chain and cause insidious toxic effects. Pollution in the form of excessive input of natural nutrients, for example, from the fertilisation of fields, fertilisation of forests, discharges from fish farms, and inadequate treatment of waste from homes and recreational properties is a significant problem for many ecosystems including waterways and coastal areas. Moreover, the inadequate use of toxic substances such as pesticides, significantly reduces the surrounding biodiversity of plants, insects and animals.
There are many types of pollution, but the common factor is that they negatively impact ecosystems and biodiversity. Reducing pollution involves halting both point source emissions and more diffuse spread of substances into nature to prevent adverse effects on species and ecosystems. Strengthening nature's own filtration methods such as vegetative buffer zones, wetlands, and retention ponds can also help mitigate pollution.
Policy Proposals for National Implementation
Prohibit the discharge of pesticides (biocides) in aquaculture, such as copper and other anti-fouling pesticides used on fish farm nets.
Phase out the use of environmentally harmful pesticides in agriculture.
Phase out the use of environmentally damaging substances in consumer products, and impose stricter requirements for risk assessments of new substances, considering how they may impact the environment.
Establish permanent buffer zones where cultivated land meets water bodies and watercourses, prohibit autumn ploughing, and actively preserve and restore retention ponds, wetlands, streams, marshes, forests, and other nature-based filtration systems that reduce runoff from agriculture.
Introduce an eco-modulated tax on plastic packaging and other plastic products for the producers and importers to incentivize the usage of more environmentally sustainable materials.
Implement requirements for sedimentation of drainage water from agriculture to reduce nitrogen pollution in each local watershed.
Implement an ambitious national plan for identification and remediation of sites contaminated by previous land use.
Enforce a zero-tolerance policy for new, untreated direct discharges, such as sewage from leisure boats or fish farms along the coast.
Prevent microplastic emissions early in the value chain by introducing requirements for product design and mitigating measures to limit known sources of microplastic pollution such as dust from tire wear, runoff from artificial turf fields, paint waste, spills of plastic raw materials, and waste from plastic processing industries.
Adopt appropriate legislation defining anthropogenic noise and light in nature as pollution, both on land and in the sea, and implement measures to limit harm on wildlife, habitats and ecosystems.
Develop a binding national plan to reduce the input of phosphorus and other nutrients from agriculture into rivers, lakes, and fjords.