2007
2 October 2007
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) will host its
second Annual Air Quality Governance Lekgotla from 8 to 9 October 2007 at the
Champagne Sports Resort in Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal. The conference will be
held under the theme "Air Quality Interventions Now", focusing on specific air
quality management activities that can be implemented now in order to defend
everyone's right to air that is not harmful to health and well-being.
This annual gathering of air quality management officials is an important
event that provides officials with a unique opportunity to get together with
their colleagues at national, provincial and municipal levels to: assist and
support one another; inform one another of, and consult one another on, matters
of common interest; and develop common procedures in the Air Quality Management
field. This exchange of information strengthens cooperation between the three
spheres of government to work together in order to improve the quality of air
in South Africa.
The 2007 Lekgotla will deal with, among others: air quality monitoring; air
quality management planning; reducing priority pollutants; dealing with vehicle
emissions; drafting by-laws; addressing residential coal and wood burning;
building political support for air quality management; and "hands on" licensing
training opportunities.
The two day event will be followed by a multi-stakeholder workshop on 10
October 2007, where the following Department's projects will be discussed: The
South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS) which shall provide all
stakeholders with easy access to all relevant information about air quality in
South Africa; and Listed Activities and Associated Emission Standard Settings
project, which is required by Air Quality Act (NEM: AQA) (Act No. 39 of 2004)
for the Minister to publish a list of activities believed to have or may have
significant detrimental effect on the environment including health, social
conditions, economic conditions, ecological conditions or cultural heritage.
The participation of the stakeholders will play an important role in ensuring
the successful development and implementation of these projects.
Media queries:
Name: Roopa Singh
E-mail: rsingh@deat.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
2 October 2007
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.environment.gov.za)
