To mark International Day for Clean Air for Blue Skies, the City of Johannesburg executive mayor, Jolidee Matongo, received an award from the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development (GDARD) on September 7.
The award is the result of the outstanding work by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to reduce the impact on the environment in the execution of its daily business and contributing towards an improvement of air quality in the city.
Representing MEC Parks Tau, GDARD’s chief director of Sustainable Use of Environment Loyiso Mkwana said the JRA’s recently re-opened asphalt plant met all the requirements and guidelines.
The facility reports on the National Atmospheric Emission Inventory System (NAEIS) and complies with all requirements, and indicates a significant reduction in air pollution emissions of one or more priority pollutants.
“There are about 425 industries registered on the NAEIS master list and about 17 industries have been found to have had significant achievements in air pollution reduction and prevention and are, therefore, identified for recognition,” said Mkwana.
Matongo was accompanied by MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services councillor Mpho Moerane, MMC for Transport councillor Nonhlanhla Makhuba and MMC for Finance councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe.
International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is a UN initiative aimed at improving air quality, enhancing global awareness of air pollution and promoting necessary action by stakeholders. This year, the day is celebrated under the theme ‘healthy air, healthy planet’, which emphasises the health effects of air pollution.
Put measures in place
Speaking at the event, Matongo said: “The city would like to highlight the importance of industries as critical contributors towards the improvement of air quality. The city has 43 licensed facilities that have been issued with atmospheric emissions licences.
“We call on all these facilities to continuously put measures in place to manage emissions from their operations by complying with the emissions standards.”
He further applauded the work done under MMC for Transport councillor Nonhlanhla Makhuba and the JRA CEO on the improvements witnessed at the asphalt plant showcase. “This is especially as the facility used to generate a lot of air pollution complaints from the surrounding businesses and residential areas,” Matongo pointed out.
Moerane added, “As the city, we have recently adopted the Air Quality Management Plan that aims to ensure that we achieve clean air for all through the implementation of coordinated actions that will result in the reduction of emissions.”
Reduced impact
“The objectives of the Air Quality Management Plan will only be achieved through compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, including compliance with the city’s Air Pollution Control By-laws, soon to be promulgated.”
Makhuba said the JRA has heeded the call to change how they work and drastically reduce their impact on the environment and air quality of the city. These efforts were not in vain as today, the entity is being recognised.
“Air pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health; hence, the city has made efforts to put measures in place to mitigate climate change.
“This provides a platform for public awareness-raising and engagement to foster environmental stewardship for the improvement of air quality.
“The City of Johannesburg has eight air quality monitoring stations across all regions that record and report the state of air quality within the municipality. This data is available for public consumption on the South African Air Quality Information System website and the app.”
