2014-05-30-fa11-s21-project-international-review-4d7ff58bb0ec9577.pdf

This report, produced for the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), provides an international review of air emission standards to support the implementation of Section 21 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (NEM:AQA). It analyzes regulatory frameworks in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia (specifically New South Wales), with additional references to India, Japan, Poland, and China. The document recommends a phased approach to listing industrial activities and setting minimum emission standards based on Best Available Technology (BAT), while suggesting the integration of command-and-control measures with market-based mechanisms like emissions trading.

• The report recommends a stepped or phased approach to emission standard setting to ensure timely implementation and avoid regulatory delays. This process involves identifying key industries and pollutants first, establishing sector teams for consultation, conducting scoping studies, and collating guidance on best available technology (BAT) before expanding to other industries.
• National minimum emission standards in South Africa should be based on Best Available Technology (BAT). The report suggests adopting the European Union's definition of BAT, which emphasizes the most effective and advanced stage of development that is economically and technically viable.
• Emission standards should primarily target point sources (stacks and vents). For significant diffuse emissions, such as fugitive dust or evaporative emissions from chemical storage, the report recommends specifying best practice control measures (e.g., floating roof tanks) or requiring a comprehensive fugitive emission management plan.
• The report advises restricting the initial set of emission standards to a small number of priority pollutants (preferably 1 to 4 per industry type), except for incineration, which requires more extensive regulation. It notes that greenhouse gas emissions are typically not managed via national emission standards but through market mechanisms like emissions trading.
• To avoid economic hardship and mass non-compliance, the report recommends that emission standards vary based on the age of the facility. It suggests adopting the New South Wales (NSW) approach of clear facility age categories and providing timeframes for older plants to upgrade to firmer standards.
• Compliance timeframes should be informed by industry cycles. The report suggests typical national minimums of 2 to 3 years for new or substantially modified facilities and 5 to 10 years for existing facilities.
• The report recommends allowing industries to apply for extensions to compliance dates if they can provide an air pollution impact assessment submitted at least one year before the deadline and demonstrate that their emissions are not causing adverse environmental impacts.
• Minimum emission standards should be expressed as emission concentrations or performance standards (e.g., kg of pollutant per ton of product), rather than total mass. Total mass limits should instead be included in individual Atmospheric Emission Licenses.
• The report suggests that South Africa investigate combining command-and-control emission standards with market-based mechanisms, such as emissions trading, following trends observed in the US and the future direction of the European regulatory regime.
• Based on international case studies, the report identifies several priority industry sectors for initial listing, including combustion installations (>50 MW), petrochemical production and refining, the metallurgical industry, mineral processing, and the organic and inorganic chemical industries.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). 2014-05-30-fa11-s21-project-international-review-4d7ff58bb0ec9577.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA11-S21-Project-International-Review.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. 2014-05-30-fa11-s21-project-international-review-4d7ff58bb0ec9577.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA11-S21-Project-International-Review.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=2014-05-30-fa11-s21-project-international-review-4d7ff58bb0ec9577.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA11-S21-Project-International-Review.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsnd20140530fa11s21projectinternationalreview4d7ff58bb0ec9577pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{2014-05-30-fa11-s21-project-international-review-4d7ff58bb0ec9577.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA11-S21-Project-International-Review.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }