The IES has responded to a call for evidence by the Environmental Audit Committee asking which issues should be subject to an inquiry.
Read all three submissions from the IES
Which topics did we suggest?
In September 2025, the Environmental Audit Committee opened a special inquiry, 'The Environment in Focus', which calls for suggested topics for what the Committee should investigate next and why.
The IES and its sister organisations submitted three potential inquiry topics:
- Air quality targets
- Addressing the risks from closed landfill contamination
- The links between social, economic, and environmental outcomes
These topics were developed in consultation with the IES Communities and IES members, identifying the most pressing topics that may not otherwise be suggested as inquiries, yet which were nonetheless in need of public scrutiny.
Key messages
Each of the three submissions offers a concise overview of the issues involved and why the topic should be considered for a Select Committee Inquiry. As a rapid summary, the key messages from each of the submissions were:
- "Air pollution is the largest environmental threat to health... Despite mounting evidence, UK air quality limits lag behind international standards.” —The Institute of Air Quality Management and the IES
- “Landfills can pose a serious threat to human health and the environment ... yet the extent of contamination from closed sites remains poorly understood.” —NCLOG and the IES Land Condition Community
- “The UK faces an unprecedented period of social, economic, and environmental challenges. For each urgent crisis, we need fast and effective solutions.” —Joseph Lewis, IES Head of Policy
What next?
- Read our full response to the call for evidence
- Find out more about the Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC), the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM), NCLOG, and the IES Land Condition Community
- If you support the IES's ambition for a country with thriving people, a healthy economy, and a flourishing environment, consider joining the IES or becoming an affiliate
- For more information about the policy work of the IES, contact Joseph Lewis, Head of Policy (joseph@the-ies.org)
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