The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, officially opened the 6th Air Quality Governance Lekgotla at Premier Hotel Regent, in East London, Eastern Cape today.
The Air Quality Governance Lekgotla is an annual event that provides a forum for coordination and co-operation in air quality management. It provides a platform for air quality officials from all spheres of government, to interact by sharing their experiences and challenges and to refine the regulatory tools going forward. This platform further serves as a source of inspiration, sharing and renewed commitments to deal with air quality management issues within their jurisdictions.
This exchange of information also strengthens cooperation and collaboration between the three spheres of government to work together in order to improve the quality of air in the country. The department uses this event to also inform other departments, provinces and municipalities on the progress made to date, with regards to the rollout of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (Act No. 39 of 2004) (AQA). The ultimate outcome of the efficient and effective implementation of the Air Quality Act is ambient air that is not harmful to health and wellbeing of South African citizens.
It is a year since the AQA came into full effect, with the movement of the emission licensing functions moving from the department to provinces, metropolitan and district municipalities.Hence, the theme for the 2011 Air Quality Governance Lekgotla is “Local authorities are taking the lead!” to encourage air quality management officials to build the momentum around the on-going implementation of the AQA.
"Local authorities have taken up the challenge and are providing the services such as installing monitoring stations to their communities. It is a pleasure to know that at local level, air quality interventions are taking place and the local authorities are driving objectives-oriented approaches to air quality governance and are making decisions that are in the best interest of communities within their jurisdictions. We are encouraging and celebrating their efforts through the theme for 2011, which is:“Local authorities are taking the lead”. Recognition of their efforts would give them moral boost to build their momentum around the on-going implementation of the AQA,” said by the Deputy Minister in support.
The purpose of the state of air presentation is that it is a single comprehensive assessment of air quality, which gives an overview of the state of air quality in South Africa, as well as to provide a baseline on the levels of air pollution in the country.
The Deputy Minister also made a call to all municipalities to compile air quality management plans. "It has also come to my attention that very few municipalities, especially the local municipalities, have developed their Air Quality Management Plans (AQMP’s). I therefore, would like to encourage every sphere of government to develop their Air Quality Management Plans as required by section 15 of the Air Quality Act. This will ensure that local government focuses its resources as their AQMPs must outline ways and means in which each sphere of government will be addressing air quality issues within its jurisdiction", said Mabudafhasi.
The Lekgotla programme will also focus on projects being implemented or are in the process of being implemented by local authorities that will lead to measurable improvements in air quality. The topics will include Air Quality Management Planning, Information Management, Atmospheric Emission Licensing, and Air Quality Management Regulations with the aim of encouraging coordination and cooperation within the three spheres of government.
The Lekgotla will execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the DEA and NACA, which was signed during the 2010 Air Quality Governance Lekgotla. According to the MoU, the joined DEA and NACA events are now referred to as the Annual Air Quality Week. From 10-11 October, the DEA will host the Air Quality Governance Lekgotla. The Multi-stakeholder Workshop will follow this on Wednesday, 12 October 2011. The topics for the workshops are as follows:
- the National Atmospheric Emission Inventory development
- Air Quality Management Plan Support Programme
Enquiries:
Moses Rannditsheni
Cell: 082 448 2450
