Industrial Pollution & Chemicals

Our Work

The EU has a long history of policies that have sought to improve Europe’s air quality and to protect the people, ecosystems and buildings affected by air pollutants. Tackling air pollution requires action in a number of areas, including industrial pollution control and reducing transport emissions. It also requires effective enforcement of air quality standards. IEEP has engaged with the EU’s air quality agenda for many years.

This has included the adoption of Directives on individual air pollutants, which were consolidated in the wide-ranging Air Quality Framework Directive which sets compulsory limit values for some pollutants and non-binding values (e.g. ‘alert levels’) for others, along with a comprehensive monitoring and information programme.

Regarding work in this area please contact: Andrew Farmer.

Latest in Air Quality

  • The Manual: Chapter 2 - Air quality

    This is a chapter of IEEP’s Manual of European Environmental Policy. This chapter focuses on EU air quality policy. The policy field is extensive and contains many directives that impose standards, provisions and developments of air quality management and regulation.

  • The Manual: Chapter 4 - Industrial pollution

    This is a chapter of IEEP’s Manual of European Environmental Policy. This chapter provides information on EU industrial pollution policy, which outlines and discusses the legislation in place to minimise the negative effects of harmful substances and pollutants on the environment and human health.

  • Environmental policy and the UK’s review of the EU Balance of Competences

    The UK Government’s Balance of Competences review has now taken evidence on 25 subject areas, including the 6 with the most relevance for the Environment. We take stock of the IEEP’s contributions, and consider what a possible UK renegotiation might mean for the environment.

  • Steps towards greening in the EU

    Despite some positive steps, further efforts are needed to achieve the transition to a low-carbon, resource efficient Europe.

  • Does the EU benefit the UK environment?

    This report considers how environmental policy in the EU effects the UK and looks at some alternatives. Overall the impact within the environmental domain can be judged to be strongly positive to the UK. The action taken has been well balanced, with benefits for human health and welfare and the sustainability of the economy as well as the environment itself.

  • Shifting away from conventional biofuels

    The UK has ample potential to use wastes and residues for advanced biofuels and create jobs in this emerging industry – but safeguards are key to ensure this is done in an environmentally sustainable way.

  • Environmental complaint handling and mediation mechanisms at national level

    Gradual harmonisation of Member States’ approaches to handling complaints over environment law breaches could have major benefits for the EU.

  • The sustainability of advanced biofuels in the EU

    Using wastes and residues for biofuels has many advantages. But ensuring sustainability and including safeguards in EU legislation are critical issues.

  • Benefit Assessment Manual for Policy Makers: Assessment of Social and Economic Benefits of Enhanced Environmental Protection in the ENPI countries

    This benefit Assessment Manual, originally for internal use, has been turned into a Benefit Assessment Manual for policy makers and experts for wider dissemination and provides an understanding of the methodologies applied for the country benefit assessments.

  • The future of EU environmental policy: challenges & opportunities

    IEEP has produced a special report for the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPEG) on ‘The future of EU environmental policy: challenges and opportunities’. The report provides a brief review of key environmental challenges facing the EU, the main policy and strategic discussions currently underway and assesses some of the prospects and challenges for the future.

  • Sourcebook on EU Environmental Law

    The Sourcebook provides a practical reference document on applicable EU environmental legislation, practices and standards which need to be taken into account in the planning and development of projects supported by Banks that have signed the ‘European Principles for the Environment'.

  • Assessment of the 6th Environment Action Programme

    This report presents the results of an independent evaluation of the 6th Environment Action Programme (6EAP). The overall objective of this evaluation was to provide an in-depth assessment of the achievements of the 6EAP since its adoption in 2002 to the end of 2010.

  • Proposed air quality Directive: Assessment of the Environmental impact of Parliament's amended proposal

    This briefing was undertaken to inform the European Parliament of the environmental impact of its proposed revision of the consolidated air quality Directive, compared to those of the European Commission ...

Highlights

  • Does the EU benefit the UK environment?

    This report considers how environmental policy in the EU effects the UK and looks at some alternatives. Overall the impact within the environmental domain can be judged to be strongly positive to the UK. The action taken has been well balanced, with benefits for human health and welfare and the sustainability of the economy as well as the environment itself.

  • Shifting away from conventional biofuels

    The UK has ample potential to use wastes and residues for advanced biofuels and create jobs in this emerging industry – but safeguards are key to ensure this is done in an environmentally sustainable way.