Noise Action Week returns, to raise the alarm about noise as a serious public health issue
Noise Action Week returns in 2026 with the backing of a powerful coalition of professional bodies, regulators and industry organisations, underlining the urgent need to treat noise as a public health priority.
Coordinated by the Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC) at the Institution of Environmental Sciences (the IES), the campaign will run from 11–15 May, putting a national spotlight on the health impacts of noise and the practical action needed to reduce it.
Noise Action Week is supported by the Institute of Acoustics (IOA), the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS), the Association of Noise Consultants (ANC), the Noise Abatement Society, the UK Noise Association, and the Noise App.
This broad coalition reflects growing cross-sector recognition that noise remains under-addressed, despite strong evidence linking it to serious health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and dementia.
With one month to go, organisers are calling on local authorities, practitioners and businesses to support the campaign and help amplify its message. A programme of online events will run throughout the week, including a launch event on the health impacts of noise by internationally recognised expert Professor Charlotte Clark. A free communications toolkit and other resources are also available to drive engagement. Organisations and individuals can find out more, access resources and sign up for updates via the Noise Action Week webpage.
Quotes
Chair of the ANC, Louise Beamish, said: “The World Health Organisation lists the impact of excessive noise on humans as increasing the risk for ischemic heart disease and hypertension, sleep disturbance, hearing impairment, tinnitus and cognitive impairment, as well as causing widespread annoyance. The WHO also points to increasing evidence for other health impacts such as adverse birth outcomes and mental health problems, and there are also links between excessive noise exposure and dementia. These are very serious, detrimental effects on society that ANC members work to address, and we welcome Noise Action Week as a means of raising the profile of the issues faced.”
John Stewart, Chair of the UK Noise Association, said: “The Government has got to get serious about tackling noise. It doesn’t just annoy millions of people but it is now recognised as a serious health issue.”
Gloria Elliott OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Noise Abatement Society, said: “Excessive noise is far more than a nuisance, it’s a serious and often overlooked public health issue. At the Noise Abatement Society (NAS), we see the real impact unwanted noise has on people’s everyday health and wellbeing. As a supporter of Noise Action Week, we are proud to work alongside our fellow sector partners to drive greater awareness, practical solutions, and a shared commitment to creating healthier sound environments for all.”
Ellie Savage, Campaign Coordinator at the IES, added: “The strong support we have already received shows the sector is ready to act. Noise Action Week 2026 puts the health impacts front and centre, showcasing practical solutions and best practice to ensure noise is taken seriously in policy, decision making and everyday life.”
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Media contact
For further information please contact:
- Ellie Savage ellie@the-ies.org (IES Policy Lead and Campaign Coordinator)
- IES Office: +44 (0)20 3862 7484
Background
The Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC) is a community of the IES. EPIC brings together members from across the environmental sciences to share their experiences and call for ambitious and deliverable policy, as well as providing members with the knowledge, insights and tools to help them deliver on the ground.
The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) is a charitable organisation and a global professional membership body for environmental scientists, with over 6,800 members. We work to unite people and specialists from diverse disciplines around the shared goal of accelerating the transition to a sustainable society. We support a diverse and interdisciplinary network of environmental scientists all over the world – and at every stage of their education and careers – to connect, develop, progress and inspire.
Noise Action Week was run by Environmental Protection UK from 1996 to 2021. In 2024, Environmental Protection UK merged into the Institution of Environmental Sciences to become EPIC.
Header image credit (c) iFriday via AdobeStock
