Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP)

Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) Room 108 55 Whitehall London SW1A 2EY United Kingdom Tel. + 44 20 7270 8159 Fax + 44 20 7270 8303 enquiries@rcep.org.uk www.rcep.org.uk

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Current and Future Activities

Establishment and Mission

Council Members and Staff Members

Working Style

List of Selected Publications

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Current and Future Activities

Present and Future Priority Fields

The Urban Environment (March 2007)

The Royal Commission published its report The Urban Environment in March 2007. In May 2008, the Government published its response to the report.

Novel materials in the environment - the case of Nanotechnology (report due in November 2008)

The RCEP has been undertaking a study on the environmental effects of novel materials and applications, focusing more specifically on nanotechnology. The preparatory phase of this new study overlapped with the completion of the study on the urban environment (2006-7). 

The study began with a scoping phase, and as part of that phase the RCEP was seeking to identify the issues and areas that would be most appropriate for the study to investigate. A seminar was also held to identify concerns and issues that the study should explore. When the scoping phase of the study was completed, the Commission invited the submission of formal written evidence on the specific issues that the study should seek to address.

Artificial Light in the Environment – a short study (due in the end of 2008)

Prior to the publication of the short-list of topics for the twenty-eighth report, it had been identified that artificial light in the environment could warrant further study (as a short study). In December 2007 the Royal Commission announced that Artificial Light in the Environment was the topic of the next short report, and announced an invitation to submit views on the subject. The study follows on from the Commission’s March 2007 report on the Urban Environment where light was identified as an important issue in determining local environmental quality. The study also bears relevance to the Commission’s 23^rd report on Environmental Planning, as it is anticipated that some of the recommendations will have planning implications. It is envisaged that the report on Artifical Light in the Environment will be published by the end of 2008.

Adapting the UK to Climate Change – next report

In July 2007 the Royal Commission published a short-list of topics for the next study topic. Following a very positive response the decision was made to undertake a study on ‘Adapting the UK to Climate Change’. The focus of the study will be on whether the UK has the institutional capacity and arrangements necessary to adapt to changes in the natural environment brought about by climate change. The scope of the study is the UK in an EU context. To help illustrate the issues, the Commission announced on 17^th July 2008 that it was inviting evidence based on three exemplar subjects; biodiversity, nature conservation and protected areas; sea-level and coastal zones; and; freshwater.

More information on Past Priority Fields.

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Background and Mission

Establishment

The RCEP is an independent standing body established by Royal Warrant in 1970. 

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Mission

Its purpose is to advise the Queen, the government, Parliament and the public on environmental issues. The Commission’s terms of reference are to advise on matters, both national and international, concerning the pollution of the environment; on the adequacy of research in this field; and the future possibilities of danger to the environment.
The Commission has interpreted ‘pollution’ broadly as covering any introduction by man into the environment of substances or energy liable to cause hazards to human health, harm to living resources and ecological systems, damage to structures or amenity, or interference with legitimate uses of the environment. It now approaches issues within the framework of sustainable development.
The Commission has published 23 reports, and many of their recommendations have been accepted and implemented by successive governments. The primary role of the Commission is to contribute to policy development in the longer term by providing an authoritative factual basis for policy-making and debate, and setting new policy agendas and priorities. It considers the economic, ethical and social aspects of issues alongside scientific and technological aspects. It sees its role as reviewing and anticipating trends and development, identifying fields where insufficient attention is being given to environmental problems, and recommending actions that should be taken.

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Council Members

The RCEP has 14 Commissioners of which 10 are from the academic world. Commissioners are drawn from a variety of backgrounds in academia, industry and public life. Contributing a wide range of expertise and experience in science, medicine, engineering, law, economics and business, Members serve part-time and as individuals, not as representatives of organisations or professions. The terms for the Members run from different dates.

Chairman Sir John Lawton	President of the Council of the British Ecological Society
Prof. Nicholas Cumpsty	Chair of the Council, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College
Prof. Paul Ekins	Head of the Environment Group, Policy Studies Institute Professor of Sustainable Development, Keele University
Dr. Ian Graham-Bryce	President, Scottish Association for Marine Science, and Chairman, East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research
Prof. Stephen Holgate	Medical Research Council Clinical Professor of Immunopharmacology, University of Southampton
Prof. Jeffrey Jowell	Professor of Public Law, University College London
Prof. Peter Liss	Professor of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia
Prof. Susan Owens	Professor of Environment and Policy, University of Cambridge, and Fellow of Newnham College
Prof. Judith Petts	Head of the School of Geography, Earth and Environment Sciences at the University of Birmingham
Prof. Jane Plant	Chief Scientist, British Geological Survey (Natural Environment Research Council)
Prof. Steve Rayner	James Martin Professor of Science and Civilization, Saïd Business School, Oxford University
John Speirs	Director of Norsk Hydro (UK) Limited, and Chairman UK Faculty of the Prince of Wales's Business and Environment Programme
Prof. Janet Sprent	OBE, Emeritus Professor of Plant Biology, University of Dundee
Prof. Lynda M. Warren	Emeritus Professor of Environmental Law, University of Wales

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Staff Members

The RCEP has a secretariat with around 11 staff. Tom Eddy is the Secretary to the Commission. 

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Work Style

Tasks of the Council

The RCEP issues major reports every 12 to 18 months, following in-depth analysis of a particular topic. To date, it has issued 23 reports on a broad range of environmental issues. In addition, the RCEP also issues ad hoc statements or responses to consultations, and periodic news releases. The Commission has freedom to consider and advise on any matter it chooses; the government may also request consideration of particular topics.

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Council Meetings

The Commission normally meets for 1½ - 2 days a month. Dates for meetings in the autumn 2008 are: 3-4 July, 4-5 September , 2-3 October, 6-7 November, and 4-5 December. Commission meetings for the year 2009 are planned to: 8-9 January, 5-6 February, 5-6 March, 2-3 April, 30 April-1 May, 4-5 June, 2-3 July, 3-4 September, 1-2 October, 5-6 November, and 3-4 December. Additionally, smaller groups of members may meet to take forward particular aspects of studies. From January 1998 onwards, the minutes of Commission meetings have been made publicly available.

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Activities in the EEAC Network

The RCEP was involved in the early years of the network and became member when membership was introduced in 1997. 

It is an active member of the Working Groups Governance and Energy and observer to the Working Group Agriculture.

Prof. Susan Owens is as from September 2006 Vice-Chair of the EEAC Steering Committee and through 2001 and 2002, Prof. Richard Macrory chaired the EEAC Steering Committee.

The RCEP hosted the 3^rd EEAC Annual Conference 1995 on Sustainable Land Use in Europe.

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List of Selected Publications

• The Urban Environment (March 2007);
• Crop Spraying and the Health of Residents and Bystanders (September 2005)
• Turning the tide: Addressing the Impact of Fisheries on the Marine Environment (December 2004)
• The Use of Biomass for Heat and Power Production (May 2004);
• Chemicals in Products (June 2003);
• The Environmental Effects of Civil Aircraft in Flight (November 2002)
• Environmental Planning (March 2002);
• Energy - The Changing Climate (June 2000);
• Setting Environmental Standards (October 1998);

More information on RCEP publications. 

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Last update: 25 August 2008