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 the UK Health Security Agency in setting and reviewing pollutants and their limits; to enhance the powers, duties and functions of various agencies and authorities 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
31 October 2023
The 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 also set up a new framework involving the UK Health Security Agency to define pollutants and limits, empower authorities to tackle air pollution, and establish a Citizens’ Commission for Clean Air that can take legal action if needed, with environmental principles guiding duties across the relevant bodies.
The bill is currently at the 1st reading in the House of Commons. It originated in the Lords and is at an early stage of passage with no committee scrutiny or votes yet.
Generated 21 February 2026
The 2022-2023 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.