ONE-BLUE: invisible pollutants, real impacts

European seas are increasingly exposed to contaminants of emerging concern, including microplastics, pharmaceutical residues and other persistent pollutants whose presence, behaviour and long-term impacts remain difficult to monitor and regulate. Although often invisible to the public and decision-makers, these pollutants can affect marine ecosystems, disrupt biodiversity and may also have implications for human health through seafood consumption pathways and marine food webs. Their impacts may be further intensified by climate change, which is altering ocean conditions, species distribution and contaminant dynamics.

'ONE-BLUE: invisible pollutants, real impacts' will explore how Europe can strengthen its response to emerging contaminants in marine environments through closer science-policy cooperation, stronger stakeholder engagement and improved governance frameworks. The event will bring together representatives from European institutions, research organisations, public authorities, economic sectors and civil society to discuss how scientific evidence can better support environmental policymaking and how regulatory and coordination barriers can be addressed.

The discussion will focus on improving the integration of research results into policy processes; engaging stakeholders across sectors and governance levels; identifying legal, administrative and coordination barriers that limit effective action; and promoting collaboration among European research projects working on marine pollution and emerging contaminants.

The event is organised in the framework of ONE-BLUE, an EU-funded Horizon Europe project bringing together more than 100 researchers from 20 research groups, 18 institutions and 11 European countries. Through case studies in the Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean, the project is advancing knowledge on the presence, concentrations and effects of emerging contaminants, while also examining how climate-related stressors may influence their behaviour and impacts. ONE-BLUE combines scientific research with innovative assessment and monitoring tools and contributes to more informed and effective EU policies.

By creating a space for dialogue between science, policy and stakeholders, the event aims to generate policy-relevant insights and practical recommendations to support more coordinated and evidence-based responses to emerging marine pollution in Europe.