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 the 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
5 May 2021
This bill would give people 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 and reviewing air pollutants and limits, strengthen the powers of several public bodies to tackle air pollution, establish a Citizens’ Commission for Clean Air with powers to take legal action, and require authorities to apply environmental principles when carrying out their duties and existing clean air laws.
The bill is at its second reading in the House of Lords, meaning it is in the early stages of debate and has not yet been examined in detail.
Generated 21 February 2026
First reading took place on 13 January. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.
Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled.
The 2019-2021 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
