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Nature-based solutions leverage nature's inherent resilience and efficiency to tackle pollution
Clean air. Clear water. Healthy ecosystems. Nature knows how.
Nature-based solutions (NbS) can prevent, reduce, and remediate pollution and at the same time help cities, farmed landscapes, rivers, coasts and seas be more resilient to climate change. The zero pollution theme page highlights how NbS provide policymakers with effective tools to reduce pollution across air, water, soil and noise while delivering broader environmental and societal benefits. In the context of zero pollution, NbS supports the EU’s ambition to reduce pollution to levels no longer harmful to human health and ecosystems.
What can NbS do for policymakers?
NbS can prevent, reduce, and remediate pollution in many ways, and at the same time adapt cities to climate change or restore ecosystems and biodiversity in rivers, farmland, coasts and cities:
- Improve air quality with urban greening through more trees, green roofs, and green corridors.
- Filter out water pollution with wetland restoration, rainwater gardens, and sustainable water management.
- Soil remediation using vegetation and micro-organisms, biological materials, harnessing groundwater flows to clean contaminated land.
- Reduce noise pollution with vegetation to absorb noise like green facades, trees, hedges, and green walls along roads and railways.
Want to learn more about what nature-based solutions can do?
Why do NbS matter to policy?
- Support EU zero pollution targets for air, water and soil through solutions like wetlands, urban forests and green infrastructure.
- Provide cost-effective alternatives to grey infrastructure such as rain gardens, green roofs and natural water treatment systems.
- Improve public health and ecosystem quality by reducing pollution exposure and restoring green spaces and natural habitats.
- Tackle multiple pollution sources at once by filtering pollutants, managing runoff and supporting biodiversity.
What EU policy instruments promote NbS for zero pollution?
The Nitrates Directive is a regulatory instrument that aims to reduce water pollution from agricultural fertilisers and manure. The directive requires Member States to monitor pollution, designate Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, and implement measures such as improved manure management, fertiliser limits, crop rotation and cover cropping. NbS can help to reduce nitrate pollution, including wetlands, buffer strips and sustainable soil management practices, improving water quality and ecosystem health.
The Water Framework Directive is a key EU water policy instrument, aiming to achieve good ecological and chemical status for all water bodies by 2027 through integrated river basin management, River basin programmes and public consultations. The directive is very relevant to NbS referencing natural water retention measures, ecosystem restoration and sustainable land management, to improve water quality and resilience.
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive aims to reduce water pollution by requiring EU Member States to collect and treat urban wastewater and protect aquatic ecosystems. The 2024 revision strengthens support for NbS by encouraging their use in integrated wastewater management plans, offering opportunities for approaches such as constructed wetlands and natural treatment systems.
Ambient Air Quality Directives
The Ambient Air Quality Directives establish EU standards and monitoring requirements to reduce exposure to harmful air pollutants and protect human health and ecosystems. NbS such as urban trees, green spaces, corridors and green roofs improve air quality and reduce pollution exposure, helping cities meet the EU standards.
EU Soil Monitoring Directive and EU Soil Strategy to 2030
The Soil Monitoring Directive aims to achieve healthy soils across the EU by 2050 by establishing a common soil monitoring framework. The framework helps to address contaminated land requiring Member States to support land managers to improve soil health and soil resilience. NbS are highly relevant to achieve the aims within the soils monitoring directive as they facilitate ecosystem restoration and phytoremediation.
Zero Pollution Action Plan to 2030
The Zero Pollution Action Plan (2021) sets out the EU’s ambition to achieve a pollution-free environment by 2050 by reducing harmful pollution in air, water and soil. It establishes 2030 targets for improving air quality, reducing water and soil pollution, protecting ecosystems and lowering waste. NbS are recognised as an important pathway to achieve these goals, including urban greening, sustainable soil management, ecosystem restoration and natural water management.
Policy resources for NbS and zero pollution
The policy resource database provides a curated collection of policy resources that can help policy makers understand, implement and monitor NbS to help prevent, reduce, and mitigate pollution.