Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution¹ (RCEP) today announced that it is to investigate the urban environment as the topic for its next major study².

The Chairman of the Royal Commission, Sir Tom Blundell, said today:

“80% of the UK population live in towns and cities. Much attention has been paid in recent years to the rural environment, but our urban areas face many environmental challenges that have a direct impact on the standard of living and the health of the majority of the population. Government policies on towns and cities are continuing to evolve and our study will bring authoritative and independent advice into that process.

We need to tackle the environmental problems that people actually experience in the places where they live and work. The urban environment has significant problems that affect our health and impose high economic costs. A new, more holistic approach to address these problems in an integrated way is required.

The Commission also intends that its work will directly influence the European Commission’s thematic strategy on the Urban Environment* that will be presented to the European Parliament by July 2005.

Our study will be of immediate relevance to millions of people, and the Commission will be consulting widely over the next few months.”

The urban environment was selected as a subject for study after extensive consultations on the Commission’s future work programme. The study announced today will draw on conclusions reached in previous reports by the Commission, and in particular will carry forward some of the recommendations in the Commission’s 23rd report, Environmental Planning, to which the government has just responded.

The main phase of the study will take place in 2004, reporting in 2005, but will be preceded by a scoping phase to commence immediately. The study is likely to cover a variety of inter-related topics. It might include, for example, noise, light and litter pollution, sustainable communities, the advantages of green urban spaces, and air and water quality. It is anticipated that this scoping phase of the study will determine the extent to which these and other important topics are within the remit of the study.

The Commission will now seek views on the key topics on which the study should concentrate. A seminar will be held at the end of March 2004 to identify concerns and issues the study might explore. The Commission is also writing to a wide range of bodies seeking their views. When the study starts next year, the Commission will invite written evidence on the issues that it has identified through the seminar and consultation.

· Under the European Community’s 6th Environmental Action Programme the European Commission is required to prepare a Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment and present it to the European Parliament and Council by July 2005. An interim Communication will be published by the end of this year.

NOTES TO EDITORS

¹   The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution is an independent standing body. Its terms of reference are to advise on matters, both national and international, concerning the pollution of the environment; the adequacy of research in this field; and the future possibilities of danger to the environment. The Chairman is Sir Tom Blundell FRS. Members of the Commission are appointed by Her Majesty The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister and serve part time.

²   The urban was selected as a subject for study after consultations with a wide variety of organisations. The study announced today will draw, where appropriate, on conclusions reached in previous reports by the Commission.

When the study starts next year, the Commission will invite written evidence on the more specific issues it intends to identify with the help of responses to this call for information.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The contact for all enquiries about this announcement, or about the new study, is:

Diana Wilkins, Assistant Secretary to the Commission
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, 5-8 The Sanctuary, London SW1P 3JS
Tel 020 7799 8976 Email: diana.wilkins@rcep.org.uk

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