On 8 July 2022, the second reading of the Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill [HL] is scheduled to take place. This bill seeks to improve air quality in England and Wales. It would establish a human right to clean air and would require the government to limit the concentration of pollutants in the air in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines and scientific evidence.
Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill [HL] (219KB PDF)
The Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill. It was introduced in the House of Lords by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party).
The bill seeks to improve air quality in England and Wales. It would establish a human right to clean air and would require the government to limit the concentration of pollutants in the air in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and scientific evidence. WHO guidelines for limits are, in most cases, more stringent than current UK limits.
The bill would also require the government to implement targets recommended by the Committee on Climate Change for limits on pollutants causing climate change.
The bill would place duties on some national authorities to exercise their functions so as to work towards clean air. The bill would also establish environmental principles the government and certain national authorities would have to follow when carrying out their duties under the bill and under other air quality legislation.
The UK currently has statutory limits for certain pollutants. These are generally less stringent than WHO guidelines. In recent years, these limits have been adhered to for all specified pollutants except nitrogen dioxide.
Poor air quality has significant health effects, including increased risk of asthma, cardiovascular diseases and death in the first year of life. Many of the negative health effects are particularly acute for young people, older people and those with pre-existing health conditions.
The Environment Act 2021 requires the government to set targets for air quality and for reducing concentrations of fine particulate matter. These targets must be set by 31 October 2022. A consultation on these targets is due to close on 27 June 2022.
Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill [HL] (219KB 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.
