This House of Lords Library briefing provides a summary of recent developments on the subject of air pollution in England, including the Government’s plan published on 5 May 2017, on the instruction of the High Court.
Air Pollution in England: Recent Developments (1 MB , PDF)
Poor air quality is estimated to cause approximately 40,000 premature deaths a year in the UK. The UK is bound by EU laws that regulate air pollution, in particular the 2008 ambient air quality directive 2008/50/EC. In recent years greater attention has been drawn to pollution levels in urban areas, particularly nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the most common source of which are diesel engine road vehicles. A number of legal cases have been brought against the government, challenging their proposed plans to reduce emissions and the speed at which the plans will be implemented. This briefing summarises the provisions in the ‘Clean Air Zones Framework’, published on 5 May 2017, at the instruction of the High Court. The Framework provides guidance for local authorities in England when establishing both charging and non-charging zones, and sets out the permitted vehicle emissions standards. The briefing also summarises the reaction to the proposals, and the general election manifesto commitments made by the main political parties on the subject of air pollution.
Air Pollution in England: Recent Developments (1 MB , PDF)
Studies indicate that biodiversity is declining. The UK and other countries are signed up to international agreements requiring national strategies that tackle biodiversity loss. The Labour government has been conducting a rapid review of the previous administration’s environmental improvement plan to develop a new strategy to protect the natural environment.
Concerns have been raised about the environmental performance of water companies in recent years, particularly the frequency at which sewage has been released into rivers. In response, there have been calls to use the fines imposed on water companies to pay for restoration projects. This article summarises the background, and steps taken by the previous Conservative government and the current Labour government, relating to the environmental performance of water companies.
Extreme rainfall and flooding in 2023 and 2024 impacted farmers and affected the supply of some domestically grown food. It is predicted that future climatic changes could impact agriculture and domestic food production, presenting both risks and opportunities. This briefing examines how the government is supporting farmers and growers to adapt to climate change.
