The 4 most populated countries in the European Community (EC) are treated first in this chapter. I then deal specifically with a number of other European countries.

Britain

Britain, an island nation, has a population of 57.6 million, 236 people per square kilometre; 91.5 per cent urban, and 8.5 per cent rural.

As the first of the industrialised nations, Britain has a long history of pollution and its control, and the resolution of environmental conflicts. Some of that history is recorded in checklist 6.1.

John Evelyn (1620–1706) was an eminent diarist and author of 30 books. He held senior positions under King Charles II and was life-time friend of Samuel Pepys. Evelyn's diary was published in 1818.

In 1661, Evelyn said of pollution in the city of London:

However, apart from setting up an alkali inspectorate and giving local authorities a limited capacity to act against nuisances (see glossary) there was no clear objective until the passing of the Clean Air Act in 1956, following the London smog disaster of 4 years earlier. Measures to reduce water pollution and noise, and a general strengthening of the Town and Country Planning Acts, resulted.