29th study: The Environmental Impacts of Demographic Change in the UK
The Royal Commission announced on 19 March 2009 that our next major study would investigate the environmental impacts of demographic change in the UK. We aim to publish a report towards the end of 2010.
- projected increases in the total population,
- the changing age structure of the population,
- changes in household size and composition,
- the distribution of population between urban and rural areas, and
- the regional distribution of population and the regional variation in population change.
- The second stage evidence is made publically available and can be viewed here.
- View the invitation to submit evidence to the study and the study questions
- Workshop held in London on 20 January 2010 (pdf, 327KB)
- Visit to Lincolnshire on 15-16 March 2010 (pdf, 638KB)
- Visit to Scotland (Inverness and Perth), 26-28 April 2010 (pdf, 370KB)
- Workshop on South East (including London), 5 May 2010 (pdf, 221KB) and a summary of the evidence received on the South East (pdf, 615KB)
- Visit to Newcastle on 24 May 2010 (pdf, 109KB) and presentation by the Institute of Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, given during the visit (pdf, 1MB)
- A paper on 'Regional Policy and Migration in the UK' by Prof Steve Fothergill, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University
- A paper on 'Pharmaceuticals products in the environment in the context of demographic change in the UK' by Ruth Wills, ESRC sponsored internship student with the RCEP between February and April 2010
- Scoping phase - letter dated 19 March 2009 (invited comments by Friday 12 June 2009)
- 16 January 2009: Information regarding the shortlist of potential topics for the 29th report
Evidence
In view of the broad range of interest generated by this announcement, we decided to collect evidence for the study in two stages.
First stage evidence
As part of the first stage collection of evidence the Commission invited organisations and individuals to submit factual information about various aspects of demographic change and its potential environmental impacts in the UK.
The Royal Commission invited anyone who wished to contribute to its study to submit information on particular aspects of demographic change by Friday 6 November 2009. View the letter containing more information sent to interested organisations (25th September 2009).
The evidence received is made publically available and can be downloaded from this page. In addition, a summary of the evidence has been prepared, view the summary and the annexes.
Second stage evidence
Following the first stage of evidence gathering the Commission have identified a number of specific trends with the potential to have a significant impact on the UK environment. These are:
The Commission are particularly interested in the effect of these demographic trends on water use, energy consumption (and greenhouse gas emissions), waste generation, landscape and biodiversity in different parts of the UK.
We have addressed specific queries directly to those whom we consider most likely to have the most relevant detailed information. Other organisations and individuals are invited to respond to a set of more general questions. The deadline for responses was Friday 9 April 2010.
Workshops, visits and reports informing the study
Several workshops and visits have been undertaken as part of the evidence gathering to inform the study. Brief reports of these events are provided below.
Background to the study
Contacts
If you have any queries, please contact Liz Halksworth (liz.halksworth@rcep.org.uk, 0300 068 6470).
Page last updated: 9 September 2010