Air Quality over South Africa - Persistent Problems and Emerging Issues
South Africa faces a range of persistent air pollution problems in addition to emerging issues. High sulphur dioxide and fine particulate levels due mainly to fuel burning within residential, industrial and power generation sectors continue to be of concern. Emerging air quality issues are primarily associated with road transport with future increases in vehicle emissions projected despite proposed national mitigation measures. Effective control of significant sources has historically been hindered by the absence of enabling legislation, cooperative governance and common vision. Recent legislative reform and the evolution of air quality management practices provide the potential basis for the delivery and maintenance of cleaner air.
An overview of the status of air quality within South Africa is presented and opportunities for meaningfully addressing issues within the context of the emerging air quality management discipline explored. Based on the experiences of other countries, opportunities such as the harmonization of air quality and development policy and planning, and integration of market measures and regulatory approaches, are considered.
Keywords: Air quality management, Cooperative governance, Household fuel burning