means the condition of air in and around a given location, in particular the extent to which it is clean, clear and free from pollutants including smog, smoke, industrial gases and dust.

Where do the requirements for air conditioning inspections come from? Part 4 (regs 17–21) of the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, SI 2012/3118, (EPC Regulations 2012) sets out the requirements for having an air conditioning system inspected by an accredited air conditioning energy assessor. The EPC Regulations 2012 implemented the requirements of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU (recast EPBD directive). Prior to the EPC Regulations 2012, the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/991 implemented the original Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2002/91/EC (original EPBD directive). The recast EPBD directive was drafted as the European Council resolved that it was necessary to require more specific actions with regards to how energy savings in buildings could be realised, across all Member States, see Practice Note: EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU—snapshot [Archived]. Directive (EU) 2018/844 of 30 May 2018 (the revised EPBD directive) amends the recast EPBD directive. It was published in June 2018 and entered into force on 9 July 2018. See: LNB

Where do the requirements for air conditioning inspections come from? Section 2 of Building (Scotland) Act 2003 (Bu(S)A 2003) and Regulation 17 of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (the Building Regs 2004), SSI 2004/406 set out the requirements for having an air conditioning system (ACS) inspected by an accredited air conditioning energy assessor. Why are air conditioning inspections required? The purpose of the inspection is to promote the efficient operation of such systems and improve the energy efficiency of the building in line with the European Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings which was implemented in Building Regs 2004, SSI 2004/406. When are inspections required? The Building Regs 2004, SSI 2004/406 require all ACS with an effective rated output of more than 12 kW to be regularly inspected by an energy assessor. Only organisations that have entered into a protocol with the Scottish Government may carry out inspections and details of the approved organisations can be found on the Scottish Government's website on the building standards pages. The inspections must be a maximum

This Practice Note provides an overview of air passenger rights in the EU. It provides guidance on the key definitions, general principles, key requirements and enforcement of air passenger rights in the EU. It covers rights of air passengers in case of cancellation, delay, denied boarding, or lost baggage. It also provides guidance on the legislation on passengers with reduced mobility. Key EU legislation EU law protects air passengers through different legislation such as: • Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 of 24 September 2008 on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community (Air Services Regulation) • Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005 of 14 December 2005 on the establishment of a Community list of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the Community and on informing air transport passengers of the identity of the operating air carrier, and repealing Article 9 of Directive 2004/36/EC • Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of 11 February 2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation

Air quality controls in England and Wales are interrelated, and stem from European legislation and international conventions, as well as from a number of national initiatives. For an overview of air pollution controls, see: Air pollution—overview, which also provides links to Practice Notes dealing with many aspects of air quality. Air quality is a devolved matter, and although the UK government leads on international legislation implementation, the domestic air quality controls can vary across the regions. This note considers any variation only in relation to England and Wales. The Environment Act 2021 and the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024 Part 4 of the Environment Act 2021 (EA 2021) contains commitments to delivering clean air outlined in the 25-Year Environment Plan and detailed in the Clear Air Strategy. For more information on the Clean Air Strategy, see Clean Air Strategy 2019 section below. Air quality provisions in the EA 2021 involve amendments to existing frameworks found in the Environment Act 1995 (EA 1995), the Clean Air Act 1993 (CAA 1993)

Introduction Ambient air quality is, in essence, the quality of the air outdoors. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that: ‘Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide per year in 2019; this mortality is due to exposure to fine particulate matter, which causes cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and cancers.’ House of Commons Research Briefing: Air quality: policies, proposals and concerns (HC Library, March 2025) stated that poor air quality is considered by the government to be ‘the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK’. It added that as well as human health, ‘… air pollution also has implications for the natural environment and for the economy. Due to the transboundary nature of air pollution, action to manage and improve air quality in the UK has been driven by both international agreements and EU legislation, as well as national and devolved legislation’. The report went on set out its cause for concern and that: ‘It is widely acknowledged that air pollution has a significant public health

Air pollution controls Air pollution controls address global climate change, ozone depletion and air quality, and are complex and broad to cover a wide range of activities. Not all air pollution controls require permits or have registration requirements, as some involve banning certain pollutants, setting targets and standards or focus on the use of renewables and energy efficiency as a way of reducing harmful emissions. For more information on air pollution controls, see: Air pollution—overview. The majority of air pollution permitting and registration requirements come from European and international controls, which have been implemented in national legislation in the UK. This Practice Note will be useful for those who want to know which permitting and registration controls are relevant in England and Wales for operators/organisations emitting air pollutants, and focuses on the following regimes: • environmental permitting • greenhouse gas permits • ozone depleting substances (ODS) Environmental permitting The environmental permitting regime provides a framework in England and Wales within which the substantive provisions of various European Directives were implemented across a range of industrial installations, bringing

An area designated by a local authority as unlikely to achieve the national air quality objectives.

Law360: A female airport worker has won her sex discrimination case against an air travel services provider, with a tribunal ruling that the company's policy that staff work any shift put women at a disadvantage because it conflicted with childcare commitments.

Property analysis: A covenant in a lease prohibited use other than as ‘a private residence’. The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) (UT) decided that short term Airbnb lettings were in breach of the covenant.

Property analysis: The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) (UT) held that the tenants of a long residential lease had breached its covenants by permitting their flat to be used for a purpose other than as a private dwellinghouse—as short term residential accommodation occupied by a succession of paying guests sourced through internet booking agencies.

Law360, London: An aircraft leasing company and two others have reached a settlement with a dozen reinsurers that they claimed should cover for the US$44m loss of a plane leased to a Russian airline and stranded after the country's invasion of Ukraine.