Why Noise Matters

Is noise the most neglected green issue of our age? This book argues compellingly that it is, and tells you all you need to know about noise as a social, cultural, environmental and health issue.

Across the world, more people are disturbed by noise in their day-today lives than by any other pollutant on Earth. From the shanty towns of Mumbai to the smart boulevards of Paris, noise is a problem. It is damaging people's health, costing billions, and threatening the world's natural sound systems in the same way that climate change is altering its eco-systems.

Drawing on evidence from all over the world, this book showcases policies and strategies that have worked to decrease noise pollution, and offers lessons for policymakers and environmental health professionals, campaigners and any individual affected by noise. Written by a renowned noise campaigner and experts in law and health, this book tells you all you need to know about noise as a social, cultural and environmental issue and how we can act to build a more peaceful world.

John Stewart has been campaigning on transport and environment issues for thirty years. He is a former Chair of Transport 2000 and of the road victim charity, RoadPeace. He currently chairs the UK Noise Association and is a Vice Chair of UECNA, the European body which represents airport campaign groups. He headed up the coalition which defeated plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. In 2008 he was voted the UK's most effective environmentalist by the Independent on Sunday. For the last three years from 2008 the Evening Standard nominated him as one of London's 1000 most influential people.