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28 August 2020 Media Release: Third Generation Western Cape Air Quality Management Plan Review

Media Release: Third Generation Western Cape Air Quality Management Plan Review

For Immediate Release
28 August 2020

The Western Cape Government, through the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP), implements systems and provides an oversight role in the province with respect to air quality management. In line with Section 15 (1) of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (Act 39 of 2004) (NEM: AQA) Provinces and Municipalities are required to develop Air Quality Management Plans to manage air quality in their regions. For it to be effective, the AQMP needs to be reviewed every 5 years to establish whether the identified goals and targets have been effectively implemented.

In accordance with the NEM: AQA requirements, a Western Cape Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) was first developed in 2010 to manage air quality in the Province. The 2010 Western Cape AQMP outlined the air quality management planning, monitoring and regulatory interventions, inclusive of assessing air quality impacts and characterizing the sources of pollution within the Western Cape Province.

The 2nd Generation Western Cape AQMP was built upon the strengths and successes of the 2010 Western Cape AQMP and was informed via formal Public Participation Process workshops during 2015 and adopted in 2016. The 2nd Generation AQMP mainly focused on strengthening the linkages between Air Quality Management and Climate Change Response, as well as spatial planning for growth and development in the Western Cape Province.
The 2nd Generation AQMP upholds the vision and the mission of the 2010 Western Cape AQMP which are as follows:

VISION

“Clean and healthy air for all in the Western Cape”

MISSION

“To ensure the effective and consistent implementation of sustainable air quality management practices, by all spheres of government, relevant stakeholders and civil society to progressively achieve and efficiently maintain clean and healthy air in the Western Cape”

GOALS

Four goals of the AQMP support the vision and mission, with each goal addressing the different aspects of the vision and are underpinned by objectives to achieve them. These are:

  • Goal 1 Ensure effective and consistent air quality management, linked to Climate Change Response
  • Goal 2 Continually engage with stakeholders to raise awareness with respect to Air Quality Management and Climate Change Response
  • Goal 3 Ensure effective and consistent compliance monitoring and enforcement
  • Goal 4 Support Air Quality and Climate Change Response programmes, including promoting and facilitating the reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions.

Following 5 years of the implementation of the 2nd Generation AQMP (2016-2020), the DEA&DP is extending an invitation and calling on all Interested and Affected Parties (I&AP’s) and authorities in the different regions of the Province to review the 2nd Generation AQMP. This first phase of the public participation review process will run from 3 August to 3 September 2020.

The review is to, inter alia:

  • Assess progress made in air quality management in the Province;
  • Establish whether the identified goals and targets have been effectively implemented;
  • Establish whether the goals and targets were still valid in terms of new developments and economic growth in the province; and
  • Identify potential air quality risks and interventions that can be translated into new goals and objectives, where required.

All I&APs and authorities are invited to participate in the first phase of the Public Participation Process, which will contribute towards the development of the 3rd Generation Western Cape AQMP.

Due to the current novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, the Public Participation Process (PPP) cannot be undertaken through the known conventional methods. In compliance to the National Disaster Management Regulations, which prohibit social gatherings, the PPP will be conducted via two sets of questionnaires to the public and industry, respectively. The I&AP’s and authorities will be engaged through alternative platforms to ensure that the Public Participation Process of the 2nd Generation AQMP is far-reaching.

The links to the background document & questionnaires will be made available on the WCG website, Facebook and Twitter.
Please click on the links below to access and complete the questionnaire.
English: https://forms.gle/qqFs7MVGXoZHuZwt8
Afrikaans: https://forms.gle/mbLbV1R6RUwxFFWp9

If you have any queries and should you wish to engage with the DEA&DP through any other virtual means (e.g. via MS Teams, Skype, Zoom), kindly contact:
Sally Benson: Sally.Benson@westerncape.gov.za