The IAQM has updated and reissued its briefing paper on air quality policy, continuing to support the IAQM membership in understanding and engaging with policy developments in the sector.

This is a briefing paper on policy relating to air pollution and indoor and ambient air quality. In recent years, the importance of air pollution has been increasingly recognised, with a series of legislative and governance developments. As such, there are multiple opportunities for positive engagement with policy and decision makers. The paper is intended for IAQM members to encourage awareness of relevant policy issues, support horizon scanning for environmental professionals, and identify opportunities to engage with decision makers and the public on emerging issues linked to air pollution and the wider environmental sciences.

Read the briefing paper

Key messages include:

• Trends for key emissions are improving, but challenges remain, which has driven public interest and legal challenges.
• UK climate policy continues to raise risks for air quality, but there are also substantial opportunities to link approaches to air quality and net zero.
• Public engagement with air quality has been subject to increased politicisation, presenting challenges for policy interventions.
• The UK general election in 2024 will present uncertainty for policy, requiring professionals to retain their position as an objective source of evidence.
• Novel contaminants, particularly PFAS and airborne microfibres, require ongoing scrutiny and attention.
• Developments around the Clean Air Strategy and Air Quality Strategy for England have been controversial, and scrutiny of their delivery in practice will be crucial.
• Wales has made considerable progress in developing its approach to air quality, soundscapes, and environmental governance; Northern Ireland has a renewed opportunity to make positive changes; and Scotland’s approach is likely to remain consistent until the next Scottish Air Quality Strategy in 2026.
• Significant political agreements have been reached by the EU for revisions to the Ambient Air Quality Directive, which may lead to positive developments across Europe.
• Secondary legislation is underway in the UK to revoke some retained EU laws on air quality, though the changes are not currently expected to have significant regulatory impacts.
• England’s Environmental Improvement Plan, targets framework, and Environmental Principles Policy Statement are now all active, shaping the English approach to air quality.
• Local Government is increasingly important for delivering on air quality policies, but is increasingly resource-constrained and in need of guidance.
• Planning reform is subject to ongoing discussions across the UK, creating uncertainty about the future of land use and Environmental Impact Assessment in England, though there have been somewhat positive developments in Scotland and London.
• Agriculture is playing an increasingly important role in shaping air quality, so the relationship between air quality management and land management will also be increasingly important.

Read the full horizon scanning paper for more information.

If there are any policy-related topics which you would like to see covered by the IAQM, you can get in touch at info@iaqm.co.uk to let us know your thoughts on potential topics for future briefings, or with your suggestions for other content.

Help shape the air quality sector and join an IAQM working group. You will have the opportunity to work with fellow air quality professionals on topical issues, support best practice in the sector, and gain valuable professional development opportunities. 

Working groups are set up for a variety of reasons, including leading IAQM work on new guidance, guidance updates and topical issues within air quality. 

Ongoing functions for each working group includes annual reviews of the information and guidance published by IAQM for members related to that working group.

To do this the working groups may complete the following tasks:

1. Produce a member survey to get input from all members.
2. Produce a summary briefing for Committee on what issues are raised and the level of update (if any) required to address different issues. The outcome will define if: a) no updates are required, b) a minor update is required, c) a major update is required.
3. Produce guidance/information based on a review by the Committee on the level of update recommended to be most beneficial to members.

How can I join a group?

Details of all the new and existing IAQM working groups are provided below. If you are interested in joining a group please get in touch (ethny@the-ies.org) and provide the following: 

• A brief overview of your relevant expertise 
• A short expression of interest (500 words max) outlining why you want to join the group and what you can contribute

IAQM Working GroupsNew group: Land-use Planning and Development Control GuidanceThis working group will focus on guidance and information in relation to planning. This will be your opportunity to help steer the future approach to assessment over the next decade. 

Firstly, IAQM are looking to review and update the 2017 Land-use planning and development control guidance document.

The expected time commitment for this would be:

1. 0.5-2 days per person over Q2 2024.
2. 2-3 days per person over Q3 2024.
3. Variable but expectation of at least 5 days per person over Q4 2024 to Q1 2025.  

Secondly, IAQM are looking to develop some useful guidance on what to expect from an air quality assessment with the intended audience being local authority officers.
New group: Air Quality Neutral Guidance This working group will focus on guidance and information in relation to the Greater London Authority’s air quality neutral guidance.

The intention is to produce a short briefing document for IAQM members to address some of the questions raised by members carrying out AQN assessments.  
New group: Mineral Dust Guidance This working group will focus on guidance and information in relation to mineral dust. IAQM are looking to review and update the Guidance on the Assessment of Mineral Dust Impacts for Planning by the end of 2024. 
Existing  group: Climate ChangeThis working group focuses on interdisciplinary engagement. As many IAQM members also carry out work in relation to climate change the group looks to develop and support IAQM members working in this area, and ensure air quality considerations are included in climate action. 

Read previous Insights Articles from this group 
Existing group: Modelling Good Practice GuidanceThis group will look at ongoing updates to the upcoming modelling guidance. 
The guidance will be reviewed twice yearly for updates and suggestions from members. 
Existing group: Odour guidanceThis group will look at ongoing updates to the guidance on the assessment of odour for planning – the next update is due shortly. The guidance will be reviewed annually for updates and suggestions from members. 
Existing group: Construction ActivitiesThis group will look at ongoing updates to the construction dust and monitoring guidance. The guidance will be reviewed annually for updates and suggestions from members.