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Government to review air quality standards
Home heating is the biggest source of PM10 particulates
during winter
On 10 June, the Government announced a review of the national environmental standards for air quality.
Poor air quality is a significant issue in some locations in New Zealand. Each year, about 1100 people die prematurely from air pollution in our cities and towns.
The air quality standards, which came into force in 2004, set limits for certain air pollutants with severe restrictions on industry after 2013 if the air quality standards are not met.
According to Glenn Wigley, Manager of Resource Management Tools at the Ministry, while good progress is being made in many parts of New Zealand to reduce air pollution, there are 11 cities and towns, including Auckland, Napier and Christchurch, that are unlikely to meet the standards by 2013.
Most air pollution in New Zealand occurs in winter and is caused by the burning of wood and coal for home heating. In Auckland, where about a third of New Zealand’s population lives, poor air quality can also be caused by road transport at any time of the year.
“Under the current regulations, industries would be penalised if their towns did not meet the standards, despite most of the pollution being caused by private homes. This is a key driver for the review of the air quality standards to ensure they are equitable,” says Wigley.
Other issues include whether the air quality standards have the right cost/benefit balance and whether the 2013 timeline is achievable. Regarding these issues, the air quality review will determine:
- whether to increase the number of times per year that the particulate matter standard may be exceeded
- whether the particulate matter standard can be achieved by 2013 and what are the costs and benefits of doing so.
Industries contribute less
air pollution than private
homes.
The concentration of PM10
are monitored to help set
appropriate national
environmental standards
for air quality.
Photo:
Taranaki Regional Council
The review is to be supported by an independent technical advisory group comprising the following members:
- Phil Barry – Chair (Financial and economics adviser and independent consultant)
- Kevin Mahon (Director Air Policy, Auckland Regional Council)
- Dr Deborah Read (Public health physician and independent consultant)
- Lawrence Yule (Mayor, Hastings District Council)
- Kevin Rolfe (Director, Kevin Rolfe & Associates and independent consultant).
The role of the technical advisory group is to make recommendations to the Minister within the terms of reference for the review. The technical advisory group will be inviting written submissions from industry, local government, public health units of district health boards, and central government agencies with portfolio responsibilities relating to air quality and public health.
For more information and for an indicative timetable for the review.
