This Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the debate scheduled to take place in the House of Lords on 26 October 2017 on the impact of air and water pollution on the environment and public health.
Impact of Air and Water Pollution on the Environment and Public Health (365KB PDF)
Air pollution is caused by a number of sources and human activities—such as industry and transport—and can have a detrimental effect on public health and the environment. Air pollution is said to be a problem at the local, national and international levels. Air quality in the UK is largely governed by the EU’s Ambient Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC). This Directive sets legally binding limits for concentrations in outdoor air of major air pollutants that impact public health, such as particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. In February 2017, the European Commission gave the UK a final warning over its failure to meet air pollution limits for nitrogen dioxide. In July 2017, the Government published its air quality plan. Along with £2.7 billion committed to improving overall air quality and cleaner transport, the plan required local authorities to develop their own plans to reduce air pollution in their areas.
Water pollution is caused by both synthetic and biological contaminants, and can, amongst other things, be damaging for aquatic environments. For example, organic matter that decomposes in water can reduce its oxygen content, resulting in potentially harmful effects for organisms such as fish. Likewise, nitrates used in agriculture can cause algae growth—known as an ‘algal bloom’—which can harm the aquatic environment by reducing the amount of sunlight reaching underwater plants, therefore disrupting the ecosystem.
The EU’s Water Framework Directive (WFD)—adopted in 2000—governs most work in managing and protecting water bodies in the UK. The WFD is based on natural geographical and hydrological units. Under the Directive, member states are required to achieve a ‘good status’ for all bodies of surface water and groundwater by 2015 or 2027. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)—a public body that advises the Government on nature conservation—reported that the number of water bodies awarded high or good surface water status between 2011 and 2016 decreased from 37 percent in 2011 to 35 percent in 2016. In addition, EU’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) aims to achieve good environmental status (GES) of the EU’s marine waters by 2020.
Impact of Air and Water Pollution on the Environment and Public Health (365KB PDF)
The Nature’s Rights Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party). The bill would recognise nature as a legal subject, granting it specific rights for protection and restoration. The bill would set out a legal framework for how this would operate, including an integrated rights framework and mechanisms for how nature’s rights would be implemented and enforced.
![Nature’s Rights Bill [HL]: HL Bill 7 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Environment-568x426.png)
Rural areas contribute a significant proportion of England’s economic output. The government has announced several policies intended to support growth in the rural economy, including farming. However, it has faced criticism for the delay in outlining its overall strategy for the agricultural sector. This briefing provides data on the rural economy and summarises government policy and stakeholder reaction
In recent years, electricity prices for both households and businesses have seen significant increases. This briefing sets out how electricity bills are calculated, how much on average they cost and how they compare internationally. It also provides commentary on why prices have been so high and gives an overview of government policy in this area.
