The chemical and physical contamination of European water resources represents one of the most acute threats to public health and environmental stability.

Objective 2 directly addresses pollution at its source, recognizing that the health of the seas is inextricably linked to the industrial, agricultural, and urban activities that take place inland. The accumulation of nutrient substances such as nitrogen and phosphorus, primarily deriving from the massive use of fertilizers in agriculture, causes devastating phenomena of eutrophication, which deplete large portions of lakes and seas of oxygen, creating literal dead zones. Concurrently, the introduction of chemical pesticides alters the balance of aquatic microorganisms and contaminates the entire food chain. Added to this scenario is the global emergency of plastics and microplastics: tons of macroscopic fragmented waste persist in the oceans for centuries, while microscopic particles penetrate the tissues of marine organisms, eventually reaching consumers’ tables.

The Mission’s approach aligns with the European Union’s “Zero Pollution” strategy, promoting circular solutions, advanced filtering technologies, and sustainable agricultural practices to block contaminants before they can reach water bodies. Only by zeroing out polluting inputs and remediating critical sites will it be possible to ensure the long-term regeneration of waters and safeguard the biodiversity and coastal economies that depend on them.