Industrial Pollution

Our Work

IEEP has long been involved in industrial policy issues, playing a central role in developing the EU's integrated approach. We undertake a wide variety of research, reviewing implementation of industrial legislation, examining potential future changes and analysing its interaction with other policy areas, such as water policy or better regulation. We are, therefore, actively working to shape and improve industrial pollution control policy in Europe.

Although traditional ‘heavy’ industry has declined significantly in most parts of the EU in recent decades, industrial production still consumes large quantities of resources. Some of this is used as direct inputs into products, but much (e.g. energy and water) is used purely as part of the production process. A major by-product of the production process is the generation of pollution – particularly to air, water and land – with industrial pollution having led to some of the most extreme pollution incidents in recent years.

Early EU legislation targeted specific industrial activities (e.g. large combustion plants) or pollutants (e.g. dangerous substances to water). However, the adoption of the 1996 Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC) saw the advent of a more comprehensive and integrated approach, targeted at a wide range of industrial production.

IEEP has long been involved in industrial policy issues. We were instrumental, for example, in contributing to a trans-Atlantic dialogue on integrated approaches to pollution control in the late 1980s, which ultimately led to the adoption of IPPC within the EU. We have worked with national governments and EU institutions on policy development, the implementation of specific Directives, the nature of policy instruments to change industrial performance and a whole range of interactions with wider economic issues. Today, IEEP is actively engaged in the ongoing challenge of interpreting and implementing the EU legislation already in place. There is also a need to think more widely, for example about how industrial legislation interacts with the Lisbon Agenda and objectives on 'better regulation'. IEEP recognises all these issues as important when trying to deliver effective and efficient environmental protection.

Our work on industrial pollution includes research on a number of aspects of this wider strategic agenda and various more specific issues and support measures related to pollution control. Particular interests include:

  • Pollution control policy
  • Regulatory Structures and Approaches
  • Air Quality

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