ABOUT AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT Northern Cape AQMP Upington 27 July - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

ABOUT AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT Northern Cape AQMP Upington 27 July 2017

Poor air quality is very old problem …. In 61 A.D. Lucius Annaeus Seneca, the Younger wrote, "As soon as I had gotten out of the heavy air of Rome, from the stink of the chimneys and the pestilence, vapors and soot of the air, I felt an alteration to my disposition." When the 16th-century Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovered California's San Pedro Bay, he reportedly noted that while the mountain peaks in the distance were visible, their bases were obscured by the smoke from Indian fires.

Prior to the Industrial Revolution • Coal was widely used in London houses • Nottingham, England 1157 - wife of King Henry II moved from Nottingham due to smoke from burning of wood • In 1273 coal burning was prohibited in London • In 1285 a commission was set up to investigate air pollution in London • In 1306 polluting London air by smoke was an offence punishable by death

The Industrial Revolution • In the 18th Century burning of coal was the backbone of the Industrial Revolution • The steam engine reigned supreme during this period and was powered by coal. Machinery used was also powered by coal. • Beginning in the 19th century, episodes of choking air pollution associated with the burning of coal became a common phenomenon in many of the major cities in Europe and the United States. • The British Parliament conducted numerous studies into air quality in the 1800’s due to the levels of ‘dirty air’ but nothing was done to solve problem.

19 th century London • Numerous fatal air pollution events occurred in London during the 19 th century • December 1873 (1150 people died) • January 1880 • February 1882 • December 1891 • These events were linked to smoke emissions from coal and stagnant fog

London Great Smog: 5-9 Dec 1952 Estimated that upwards of 4,000 died prematurely in the immediate aftermath of the smog

Response to London Smog • In 1956 Great Britain passed the Clean Air Act, legislation to control smoke emissions: • banning dark visible smoke emissions from chimneys, railway engines & vessels • required new furnaces to be smokeless • gave Local Authorities the power to designate smokeless zones

Los Angeles Smog  As early as 1922 LA had a large number of motor vehicles  Problems with smog were noticed as early as the 1940’s with the view of the San Gabriel Mountains was impaired. • The effects of the smog were numerous with humans, agriculture and materials being negatively affected. • In 1947 the Los Angeles County formed the US nation's first air pollution control agency. • After the Second World War LA boomed and it started experiencing numerous smog days. • In the 1950s, automobile exhaust became a prime suspect. • In this 1960 UCLA researchers demonstrate a new anti-smog device developed for automobiles

Air quality: The African Context • Africa experiences air pollution problems of First World • increased urbanisation and industrialisation • increased vehicular traffic • increased per capita energy consumption • Experiences air pollution problems of Third World • informal settlements and reliance on high-polluting domestic fuel sources therefore high indoor pollution • inadequate legislation and poor enforcement

What is an AQMP? An AQMP is a strategic planning document that assists the implementing organisation (national, province, municipality) achieve air quality management objectives in a structured and measured manner.  It is a structured system-based philosophy  It can be applied at a range of spatial scales  It is driven by defined air quality objectives  It implies management of activities that impact on air quality  It implies monitoring of progress towards reaching objectives

AQMP: The legal imperative  In the US, Federal law require state Air Quality Attainment Plans  In the UK, Air Quality Management Plans are establish at micro level  In South Africa, provinces and municipalities are required to include AQMPs in their EMPs and IDPs

What should an AQMP contain? An AQMP should, where applicable, aim to:  address the effects of  improve (or maintain) air emissions from any other quality; sources  identify and reduce the  negative impact on human implement obligations in health and the environment respect of international  address the effects of agreements emissions from fossil fuel use  give effect to best practice in in residential areas air quality management  address the effects of  describe how emissions from industrial implementation will be sources effected and measured

AQMP process at a glance

STEP 1: Establish stakeholder group Stakeholder participation enriched the process, gains acceptance and eases implementation  Existing databases  Direct approach,  Newspaper notices  Establish and maintain database  Stakeholders include: • Government (National, Province, Municipalities) • Other government departments • Industry, agriculture, NGOs, etc

STEP 1: Baseline assessment Understanding of current status of air quality • Nature of the receiving environment • Emission sources • Ambient air quality (measurements and/or modelling) • Capacity for air quality management function • Intergovernmental relationships

Receiving environment  Location  Topography  Climate  Meteorology  Population

Baseline AQ information Data are required for problem identification?  Emissions data  Ambient monitoring data  Dispersion modelling results  Receptor data  AQM capacity Annual average conc. (ug/m3) 60 PM10 50 SO2 NO2 40 microgram/m3 30 20 10 0 A B C D Site

Analysis of data: Receiving environment  Receptor data • Location of communities • Location of other sensitive receptors • Topography, climate, meteorology  Expected outcomes • Identification of areas of potential impact • Understanding of nature of the impact • Influence of topography on meteorology • Understanding of data gaps

Analysis of data: Emissions  Emission data • Sources categories (e.g. industry, motor vehicles) • Pollutants of interest • Available inventories, studies, documents • Available emission measurements • Proxy data (e.g. fuel consumption, VKT)  Expected outcomes • Understanding of relative contribution of sources • Understanding of pollutants of concern • Understanding of location of sources • Understanding of data gaps

Analysis of data: Ambient air quality  Ambient monitoring data • Station type (location), e.g. traffic, industrial • Type of monitoring, e.g. continuous, campaign • Pollutants monitored • Data quality • Comparison with ambient standards • Assessment of variation and trends • Overlay with receptor areas • Assessment using meteorology

Analysis of data: Ambient air quality  Analysis for the following outcomes • Understanding of ambient concentrations relative to standards at specific locations (monitoring stations) • Understanding of variation and trends • Possible understanding of source impacts • Understanding of gaps

Analysis of data: Dispersion modelling  Dispersion modelling results • Specialist studies that have been done • Sources included / excluded • Comparison with monitored data  Expected outcomes • Understanding of spatial distribution of pollutants • Understanding of relative contribution of sources • Identification of monitoring needs • Understanding of gaps

Analysis of data: AQM Capacity  Capacity includes: • Systems, Structure, Skills, Incentives, Strategy, Inter- relationships  Expected outcomes • Are the necessary systems in place for the mandated AQM function? • Are the departmental structures facilitate AQM function • Does the incumbent personnel have the skills to fulfil the function • Are there incentives for AQM personnel • Are the necessary relationships forAQM functional

STEP 2: Identification of gaps and issues  Based on findings of baseline assessment, e.g.:  Emission inventory: • Criteria and toxic pollutants • Sources of concern  Monitoring and modelling: • Source apportionment • Sources that result in ambient exceedances  Receptor data for: • Exposure  Institutional requirements: • Capacity

STEP 3: AQMP vision and goals • Develop of an overall objective (vision) • Develop of goals to address the gaps and issues • Contextualised by over-arching policy • Consistency with related plans • Goals should be SMART ( S pecific, M easurable, A chievable, R elevant, & T ime based)

AQMP for the Western Cape 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”

Western Cape AQMP goals  To ensure effective and consistent Air Quality Management  To continually engage with stakeholders to raise awareness with respect to air quality  To ensure effective and consistent compliance monitoring and enforcement  To support climate change protection programmes, including promoting the reduction of Green House Gas emissions