Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG)
Provides independent scientific advice on air quality to Defra, in particular the air pollutants contained in the Air Quality Strategy (AQS) for the UK and those covered by the EU Directives on ambient air quality.
The Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) gives advice on levels, sources and characteristics of air pollutants in the UK.
Terms of reference
The purpose of AQEG is to:
- provide advice to, and work collaboratively with: officials and key office holders in Defra and the Devolved Administrations, other delivery partners and public bodies as well as EU and international technical expert groups
- report to Defra’s Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA): chairs of expert committees will meet annually with the CSA and will provide a summary of the work of their committee to the Science Advisory Council (SAC) for Defra’s annual report. In exception, matters can be escalated to ministers
- support the CSA as appropriate during emergencies
- contribute to developing the air quality evidence base: analyse, interpret and synthesise evidence, provide judgements on quality and relevance, suggest priority areas for future work and advise on Defra’s implementation of the air quality evidence plan (or equivalent)
- give advice on current and future levels, trends, sources and characteristics of air pollutants in the UK
- provide independent advice and operate in line with the UK government’s Principles for Scientific Advice and the Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees (CoPSAC)
Expert committee members are independent appointments made through open competition, in line with OCPA guidelines on best practice for making public appointments. Members are expected to act in accord with the principles of public life.
Membership
Expert committee members are independent appointments made through open competition, in line with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) guidelines on best practice for making public appointments. Members are expected to act in accord with the principles of public life.
Find out more about the committee members (PDF) and the committee’s register of interests (PDF) on the UK-Air website.
Recruitment
Defra will be appointing up to 7 individuals to serve as members of the AQEG from 1 April 2026.
Information about the role of AQEG members and the process for applying are available in the recruitment advert.
Closing date for applications is midday, 12 January 2026.
Use the following documents to apply for AQEG membership:
Publications
For details of our publications, go to the UK-Air website.
Minutes
You can request minutes of our meetings by emailing aq.secretariat@defra.gov.uk.