Air
Law and Your Environment air pollution pages
More detailed information on your rights and responsibilities in relation to air quality can be found on our Law and Your Environment website.
Air Pollution more informationAir pollution law seeks to protect air quality and human health. It does this by controlling air pollutants and emissions released into the atmosphere and by regulating activities that cause or contribute to air pollution. It also sets air quality standards to improve air quality.
Activities affecting Air Quality
- Industries and power stations
- Energy use
- Transport
- Cigarette smoke
- Bonfires
- Household activities
- Waste incineration
Key Sources of Air Pollution Law - National
- Acts of Parliament
- Statutory Instruments
- Government policy documents such as the National Air Quality Strategy
- Common law (case law made by the judges)
Key sources of Air Pollution Law- International/European
- European Directives
- International Conventions
Tackling air pollution
In one sense, air pollution is a global problem. There are a number of air pollution problems that affect more than one country. They include climate change, ozone depletion and trans-boundary pollution. The international community has passed a wide range of international agreements to address these issues.
In Europe, the European Union has adopted several directives that regulate air quality. These directives address a variety of air pollution issues including air emissions from road transport, waste incineration and large combustion plants. The directives have been given effect in the United Kingdom by legislation made by the Westminster Parliament orinthe devolved administrations.
Apart from air pollution legislation, the United Kingdom also has a National Air Strategy that sets out the domestic policy for the improvement and maintenance of air quality. The Strategy also provides for the local air quality management system which requires local authorities to monitor air quality in their areas against statutory objectives. Local authorities are required to take action if local air quality fails to meet statutory objectives.
The latest version of the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Key Air Pollution Legislation
- Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 - amended by the Transport Act 2000
- The Environmental Protection Act 1990 - amended by the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999
- The Clean Air Act 1993
- Environment Act 1995 - provides for the National Air Quality framework
- Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 and the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (England and Wales) 2000 as amended by the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007
- Transport Act 2000
- Finance Act 2000 - creates the Climate Change Levy which seeks to minimise greenhouse gases
- Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003 - provides for statutory emissions trading
- The Air Quality Standards Regulations 2007 No. 64
- The Air Quality Standards (Wales) Regulations 2007 No. 717 (W. 63)
- The Air Quality Standards (Scotland) Regulations 2007 No. 182
- The Air Quality Standards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 No. 265
- Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007