13 
 
green spaces has increased 52, green spaces often lose out in the competition for land as 
the share of the population living in urban areas continues to rise. 
This strategy aims to reverse these trends and stop the  loss of green urban ecosystems. 
The promotion of healthy ecosystems, green infrastructure a nd nature-based solutions 
should be systematically integrated into urban planning, including in public spaces, 
infrastructure, and the design of buildings and their surroundings. 
To bring nature back to cities and reward community action, the Commission ca lls on 
European cities of at least 20,000 inhabitants to develop ambitious Urban Greening 
Plans by the end of 2021. These should include measures to create biodiverse and 
accessible urban forests, parks and gardens; urban farms; green roofs and walls; tree -
lined streets; urban meadows; and urban hedges. They should also help improve 
connections between green spaces, eliminate the use of pesticides, limit excessive 
mowing of urban green spaces and other biodiversity harmful practices. Such plans could 
mobilise policy, regulatory and financial tools. 
To facilitate this work, the Commission will in 2021 set up an EU Urban Greening 
Platform, under a new ‘Green City Accord’ 53 with cities and mayors. This will be done 
in close coordination with the European Covenant of Mayors. The Urban Greening Plans 
will have a central role in choosing the European Green Capital 2023 and European 
Green Leaf 2022.  
The Commission will support Member States and local and regional authorities through 
technical guidance and help to mobilise funding and capacity building. It will also reflect 
these objectives in the European Climate Pact.  
2.2.9. Reducing pollution 
Pollution is a key driver of biodiversity loss and has a harmful impact on our health and 
environment. While the EU has a solid legal framework in place to reduce pollution, 
greater efforts are still required. Biodiversity is suffering from the release of n utrients, 
chemical pesticides, pharmaceuticals, hazardous chemicals, urban and industrial 
wastewater, and other waste including litter and plastics. All of these pressures must be 
reduced.  
As part of the Commission’s Zero Pollution Ambition for a toxic -free environment, a 
new EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability will be put forward along with a Zero 
Pollution Action Plan for Air, Water and Soil.  
The Commission will also promote the goal of zero pollution from nitrogen and 
phosphorus flows from fertilisers through reducing nutrient losses by at least 50%,  while 
ensuring that there is no deterioration in soil fertility . This will result in the  reduction of 
use of fertilisers by at least 20% . This will be achieved by implementing and enforcing 
the relevant environmental and climate legislation in full, identifying with Member States 
the nutrient load reductions needed to achieve these goals, applying balanced fertilisation 
and sustainable nutrient management, and by managing nitrogen and phosphorus better 
throughout their lifecycle. To this end, the Commission will work with Member States to 
                                                 
52  There are 11,000 Natura 2000 sites within, or partly within, cities, representing 15% of the total area of 
the Natura 2000 network. 
53  The Green City Accord.