29th study: The Environmental Impacts of Demographic Change in the UK
The Royal Commission announced on 19 March 2009 that our next major study would investigate the environmental impacts of demographic change in the UK. We aim to publish a report towards the end of 2010.
In view of the broad range of interest generated by this announcement, we decided to collect evidence for the study in two stages.
Second stage evidence
Following the first stage of evidence gathering the Commission have identified a number of specific trends with the potential to have a significant impact on the UK environment. These are:
- projected increases in the total population,
- the changing age structure of the population,
- changes in household size and composition,
- the distribution of population between urban and rural areas, and
- the regional distribution of population and the regional variation in population change.
The Commission are particularly interested in the effect of these demographic trends on water use, energy consumption (and greenhouse gas emissions), waste generation, landscape and biodiversity in different parts of the UK.
We have addressed specific queries directly to those whom we consider most likely to have the most relevant detailed information. Other organisations and individuals are invited to respond to a set of more general questions. The deadline for responses is Friday 9 April 2010.
First stage evidence
As part of the first stage collection of evidence the Commission invited organisations and individuals to submit factual information about various aspects of demographic change and its potential environmental impacts in the UK.
“For the first time, we will be collecting evidence for a major study in two stages”, said Sir John Lawton, the Chairman of the Royal Commission. “This is an important and complex subject in which many people have already expressed a strong interest: we want to gain a clear understanding of what is already known about the changes likely to take place by 2050 before deciding which aspects we can most usefully explore in more depth.”
The Royal Commission invited anyone who wished to contribute to its study to submit information on particular aspects of demographic change by Friday 6 November 2009. View the letter containing more information sent to interested organisations (25th September 2009).
A summary of the evidence received will be made available on the website in spring 2010.
Background to the study
- Scoping phase - letter dated 19 March 2009 (invited comments by Friday 12 June 2009)
- 16 January 2009: Information regarding the shortlist of potential topics for the 29th report
Contacts
If you have any queries, please contact Yolanda Rizzi (yolanda.rizzi@rcep.org.uk, 0300 068 6468), or Stuart Matheson (stuart.matheson@rcep.org.uk, 0300 068 6335).
Page last updated: 12 February 2010