Noise remains a neglected pollutant

Leading experts have warned that little progress has been made in tackling noise - one of the UK's most overlooked environmental health issues. This comes three years after the publication of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee's landmark report The neglected pollutants: the effects of artificial light and noise on human health.

The report was the subject of an event hosted on the 6th July by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), chaired by former IOA president Stephen Turner, in partnership with the IOA and the UK Noise Association (UKNA). Parliamentarians, researchers and practitioners reflected on the report's legacy and called for renewed government action to reduce the health impacts of environmental noise.

Opening the event, Lord Krebs, a member of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee during the inquiry, described the Government's response to the Committee's recommendations as "disappointing", concluding that "noise remains a neglected pollutant." He warned the challenge is likely to become more pressing because of urban densification, population growth and the impacts of climate change, stating:

"It's not going to go away this problem. It's going to get worse".

Peter Rogers, Chair of the IOA Parliamentary Liaison Group,  described a "shocking lack of resource" across both central and local government. He also pointed to growing difficulties in recruiting environmental noise specialists:

"There is a crisis… we're not sure who the next generation of public sector or specialists are going to be.”

Published in 2023, the report made a series of recommendations aimed at reducing the health burden associated with environmental noise. However, speakers noted that, despite the Government's formal response later that year, there has been little evidence of substantive progress.

Among the concerns raised were the absence of:

• a national plan to reduce the health burden associated with noise exposure, including measurable targets to reduce the number of people who are highly annoyed by noise;
• better implementation of the Noise Policy Statement for England;
• the establishment of an independent expert committee on noise;
• improved resourcing and monitoring to support local noise management; and
• an updated assessment of the economic costs of environmental noise.

John Stewart, Chair of the UK Noise Association, said: 

"The report, and the Government's reaction to it, has been a missed opportunity." 

He also highlighted the limited capacity within Defra, noting that its noise team currently comprises only two part-time members of staff.

Despite frustration at the pace of progress, speakers agreed that the report has had an important legacy in bringing together organisations from across research, policy, professional practice and campaigning to advocate for stronger action on environmental noise.

The event concluded with a discussion on the next steps needed to drive progress on noise policy. Proposals included the establishment of an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on sound and noise management to provide sustained parliamentary focus on the issue.

Ellie Savage, Policy Lead at the Institution of Environmental Sciences, who organised the event, said:

"This event demonstrated the strength of collaboration across the sector and a shared determination to ensure noise is no longer treated as a neglected pollutant. Building on that momentum, the IES is planning to convene a series of policy workshops with partners this autumn to develop a blueprint for tackling noise pollution. That work will help shape the sector's priorities ahead of Noise Action Week 2027, creating further opportunities to raise the profile of noise as a major environmental health issue with the public and policy-makers and push for meaningful action."

If you missed the webinar, you can view it here Neglected Pollutants 3 years on: The effects of noise on human health