Air Pollution and Public Health: Legal Challenges and Opportunities in the UK

Ana Kantzelis and Róisín Finnegan contributed to UKELA’s December edition of elaw with an article titled ‘Air Pollution and Public Health: Legal Challenges and Opportunities in the UK’.

The piece outlines how air pollution impacts public health, highlighting the growing evidence of its link to respiratory conditions, cardiovascular diseases, and premature deaths. Providing an overview of the current regulatory and legal landscape in the UK, Ana and Róisín argue that the UK’s air quality laws fail to prioritise public health and contrast the UK’s approach with the new EU Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air. Key provisions of the new EU Directive are analysed, and highlight where UK standards lag, reinforcing the need to align air quality standards with WHO-recommended levels and improve accountability.

UKELA Members can read it by clicking here.