THE 2017 NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

The 2017 National Framework for Air Quality Management serves as the operational blueprint for the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (AQA) in South Africa. It defines the roles of national, provincial, and municipal governments in managing atmospheric emissions and outlines a governance cycle comprising information management, problem identification, strategy development, standard setting, and enforcement. Key tools introduced include the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS) and the South African Atmospheric Emission Licence and Inventory Portal (SAAELIP). The framework also details the process for declaring priority areas, managing listed activities through Atmospheric Emission Licences (AELs), and fulfilling international obligations regarding greenhouse gases, ozone-depleting substances, and persistent organic pollutants.

• The framework establishes a '3D governance model' that emphasizes both vertical integration between the three spheres of government and horizontal integration across different national departments and stakeholders.
• South Africa utilizes the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS) to provide public access to real-time ambient air quality monitoring and the Air Quality Index.
• The South African Atmospheric Emission Licence and Inventory Portal (SAAELIP) integrates the System for National Atmospheric Emission Licensing (SNAEL) and the National Atmospheric Emission Inventory System (NAEIS) to manage licenses and report emissions.
• Three national priority areas have been declared where ambient air quality standards are exceeded or likely to be exceeded: the Vaal Triangle Airshed, Highveld, and Waterberg-Bojanala.
• The framework identifies eight criteria pollutants for which national ambient air quality standards have been established: sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), particulate matter (PM10), particulate matter (PM2.5), and benzene (C6H6).
• Listed Activities are those that result in atmospheric emissions and may have a significant detrimental effect on the environment; these activities require an Atmospheric Emission Licence (AEL) to operate.
• The Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) principle, informed by the Best Available Technology/Technique (BAT) approach, is used to establish national emission standards.
• South Africa's international air quality obligations include the UNFCCC (climate change), the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol (ozone depletion), and the Stockholm Convention (persistent organic pollutants).
• Greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, and SF6) are declared as priority air pollutants, requiring certain emitters to submit pollution prevention plans.
• The framework defines a specific process for the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances, with a target for 100% HCFC reduction by January 1, 2040.
• The National Air Quality Index (AQI) simplifies complex pollutant measurements into a scale from 0 (clean air) to 10 (much polluted air) to communicate health risks to the public.
• The framework mandates a review process every five years, with the 2017 version being the third generation of the National Framework.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2018). THE 2017 NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/National-Environmental-Managerment-Air-Quality-Act-39-2004-the-2017-National-20181026-GGN-41996-01144.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. THE 2017 NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. 2018. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/National-Environmental-Managerment-Air-Quality-Act-39-2004-the-2017-National-20181026-GGN-41996-01144.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=THE 2017 NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA |date=26 October 2018 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/National-Environmental-Managerment-Air-Quality-Act-39-2004-the-2017-National-20181026-GGN-41996-01144.pdf?x21779 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrights20182017, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{THE 2017 NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2018}, month = oct, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/National-Environmental-Managerment-Air-Quality-Act-39-2004-the-2017-National-20181026-GGN-41996-01144.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }