00206BB9DB98190509101147

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) of South Africa responded to a request from the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) to develop regulations for the implementation of the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). The DEA declined this request, stating that the AQMP is a collaborative plan rather than a regulation and that existing air quality management tools are sufficient. The document also provides a detailed response to the 'Broken Promises' report, outlining progress in air quality governance, monitoring, and intergovernmental cooperation within the HPA.

• The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) declined to develop specific regulations for the implementation of the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP), arguing that the AQMP was designed as a "plan that seeks to promote collaboration between stakeholder and articulate shared vision and goals" rather than a regulation.
• The DEA identifies five existing air quality management tools that complement the AQMP: the Atmospheric Emission Licensing (AEL) System, Controlled Emitters Regulations (covering small boilers, temporal asphalt plants, and small-scale char/charcoal plants), National Dust Control Regulations, National Atmospheric Emission Reporting Regulations, and a Strategy to Address Air Pollution In Dense Low-income Settlements.
• Ambient air quality data in the HPA shows mixed results: PM2.5 and PM10 levels improved in Ermelo, Hendrina, and Middelburg, while Secunda and Emalahleni saw a reversal of improvements in 2015 and 2016. However, SO2 concentrations improved across all five monitoring stations in the HPA.
• The DEA asserts that achieving desired air quality levels is a long-term process, citing examples from the United Kingdom and the United States of America where the process can take "in excess of 20 years".
• The DEA conducted a Medium-Term Review (MTR) of the HPA AQMP to update emission inventories, assess changes in ambient air quality, review intervention progress, and provide recommendations for strengthening implementation.
• Progress in HPA governance includes the establishment of National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the deployment of monitoring networks by three spheres of government, and the appointment of Air Quality Officers by all district municipalities in the HPA.
• The DEA opposes the suspension of new Atmospheric Emission Licenses (AELs), stating that such a move would delay the transition from outdated to cleaner technology and make the country "uncompetitive".

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). 00206BB9DB98190509101147. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/00206BB9DB98190509101147.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. 00206BB9DB98190509101147. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/00206BB9DB98190509101147.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=00206BB9DB98190509101147 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/00206BB9DB98190509101147.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrightsnd00206bb9db98190509101147, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{00206BB9DB98190509101147}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/00206BB9DB98190509101147.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }