2014-05-30-fa16-ambient-aq-standards-discussion-document-30-10-2007-2ec626542db9c536.pdf

This discussion document, compiled by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), outlines the process for establishing national ambient air quality standards in South Africa under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 2004 (AQA). It analyzes the transition from source-based controls to an objectives-based approach, evaluates the limitations of previous SABS standards (SANS 1929 and SANS 69), and summarizes public and stakeholder responses to proposed standards. The document concludes by presenting a revised set of standards and a governance framework that uses tiered zones (Green, Blue, Purple, Orange, and Red) to trigger air quality management interventions.

• The South African government is shifting its air quality management paradigm from purely individual source-based controls to an 'objectives based approach' focused on ambient air quality.
• Ambient air quality standards are viewed as political decisions rather than purely scientific ones, as they reflect the level of risk a society is willing to accept to balance health, environment, and economic interests.
• The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) identifies the primary purpose of ambient standards as providing triggers and benchmarks for management interventions, rather than as a direct tool for enforcement against specific polluters.
• SANS 1929 was found to be limited as a basis for AQA standards because it presented limit values as guidelines rather than absolute standards, and NGOs criticized the SABS process for lacking adequate public participation.
• SANS 69 was viewed by DEAT as more of a policy than a standard, and it lacked alignment with the AQA because the Act does not explicitly reference 'Limit values', 'Target values', 'Alert thresholds', or 'Margins of tolerance'.
• Public consultation on the proposed standards revealed a polarity between industry, which feared standards would be used for enforcement, and NGOs, who feared they would not be used for enforcement.
• The 2007 National Framework introduces a tiered zoning system to manage air quality: Green (Class 1) for basic governance, Blue (Class 2) for pre-emptive interventions, Purple (Class 3) for sustained interventions, Orange (Class 4) for immediate interventions, and Red (Class 5) for areas requiring immediate declaration as priority areas.
• The revised standards proposed for public comment include specific limit values and compliance dates for Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Particulate Matter (PM10), Ozone (O3), Benzene (C6H6), Lead (Pb), and Carbon Monoxide (CO).

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). 2014-05-30-fa16-ambient-aq-standards-discussion-document-30-10-2007-2ec626542db9c536.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA16-Ambient-AQ-Standards-Discussion-Document-30-10-2007.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. 2014-05-30-fa16-ambient-aq-standards-discussion-document-30-10-2007-2ec626542db9c536.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA16-Ambient-AQ-Standards-Discussion-Document-30-10-2007.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=2014-05-30-fa16-ambient-aq-standards-discussion-document-30-10-2007-2ec626542db9c536.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA16-Ambient-AQ-Standards-Discussion-Document-30-10-2007.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsnd20140530fa16ambientaqstandardsdiscussiondocument301020072ec626542db9c536pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{2014-05-30-fa16-ambient-aq-standards-discussion-document-30-10-2007-2ec626542db9c536.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA16-Ambient-AQ-Standards-Discussion-Document-30-10-2007.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }