A Bill to establish the right to breathe clean air; to require the Secretary of State to achieve and maintain clean air in England and Wales; to involve Public Health England in setting and reviewing pollutants and their limits; to enhance the powers, duties and functions of the Environment Agency, the Committee on Climate Change, local authorities (including port authorities), the Civil Aviation Authority, Highways England, Historic England and Natural England in relation to air pollution; to establish a Citizens’ Commission for Clean Air with powers to institute or intervene in legal proceedings; to require the Secretary of State and the relevant national authorities to apply environmental principles in carrying out their duties under this Act and the clean air enactments; and for connected purposes
House of Lords
12 September 2019
This bill would create a legal right to clean air and require the government to achieve and maintain clean air in England and Wales. It would involve Public Health England in setting pollutant limits, expand the powers of key public bodies to tackle air pollution, and establish a Citizens’ Commission for Clean Air that can take legal action if needed, while mandating environmental principles in relevant duties.
The bill is currently at the Lords’ 2nd Reading, meaning it is in the early stages of passage and has not yet proceeded to committee stage or the Commons for consideration.
Generated 21 February 2026
First reading took place on 5 July. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.
The 2017-2019 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
