Air pollution

Air pollution

Air pollution controls, addressing global climate change, ozone depletion and air quality are complex, wide ranging and cover a number of activities. Given the far reaching nature of air pollution, many of the controls are found at international, European and national levels.

Sources of air and atmospheric pollutants

Air pollutants come in many forms and stretch across the range of human activities—from emissions emitted by heavy industry, to activities such as driving a car, lighting a fire and refrigerating food. Some of the main pollutants include:

•
carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides—major sources include industrial processes, energy plants and transportation
•
sulphur dioxide—released by burning sulphur containing fossil fuels (eg coal) and produces acid rain, when it combines with water vapour
•
lead particulates and other heavy metals—arising from combustion processes in motor vehicles, metal processing industries and certain waste incineration, such as batteries
•
PM₁₀ and PM_2.5—these are very small airborne particulate matter, which arise predominately from diesel engines
•
dioxins, furans, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls—produced by incomplete combustion of fuels
•
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—released in vehicle exhaust gases
•
fluorinated

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

TAKE A FREE TRIAL

Latest Environment News

CIC announces BSI approval of new British Standard on sustainability competence

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has announced that the British Standards Institution (BSI) Planning and Approval Team formally approved a proposal on 22 October 2025 to develop a new British Standard on sustainability competence. The standard will be based on The Edge and CIC’s ‘Competence Framework for Sustainability in the Built Environment’, released in February 2025. It is intended to outline sustainability criteria for competence frameworks across the built environment sector and to support the development of sector-specific guidance that reflects the appropriate scope and level of competence required for defined roles, functions and activities.

DESNZ publishes CfD Allocation Round 8 supply chain plan guidance for solar projects

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published its guidance for solar projects of 300MW or more applying to Allocation Round 8 of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme. Applicants must submit a Supply Chain Plan (SCP) and obtain a statement of approval from the Secretary of State to qualify. The SCP assesses commitments in four areas—Green Growth, Infrastructure, Innovation, and Skills—with a minimum 60% score required in each. The application process includes a one-week submission window, optional feedback sessions, and opportunities for resubmission. After a CfD is awarded, DESNZ monitors implementation through regular meetings. A final Supply Chain Implementation Statement is required to meet CfD contract conditions. Failure to meet SCP commitments may result in contract termination.

Defra announces environmental permitting reforms to accelerate construction projects

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced reforms to environmental permitting intended to reduce construction delays. The Environment Agency will receive new powers to exempt low-risk activities from permit requirements, potentially saving builders up to 16 weeks and small businesses £360 per permit. Activities including site investigations, waste storage and drainage operations may proceed without permits where conditions are met. Solar and wind farm construction could avoid permitting requirements entirely in some cases. Safeguards will require consultation and risk assessment for exemptions. Legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time allows, applying to England only.

BSI Group publishes international standard for biodiversity preservation

The British Standards Institution (BSI) has published two international standards to support global biodiversity preservation. ISO 17620 establishes a unified framework for achieving Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in development projects, ensuring biodiversity is measurably improved post-development and aligning with legislation such as the Environment Act 2021. ISO 17298 provides a scalable framework for organisations to integrate biodiversity considerations into strategic planning and operations, supporting global biodiversity goals and enabling alignment with other standards such as ISO 14001 and ISO 26000. Developed through international collaboration and led by UK experts, both standards aim to foster transparency, consistency, and accountability in biodiversity practices across sectors and geographies.