Air Quality is no joke and demands a long term solution
The day after the national lockdown commenced, a one-line poetic injustice appeared in the Government Gazette. It took the form of an amendment to the Air Quality Act that doubled the upcoming emissions limit for sulphur dioxide (SO2): one of the pollutants that is released by power stations and other heavy industries that burn coal.
The pre-amended limit of 500 mg/Nm3 was meant to kick in on the 1st April, but unfortunately even the revised limit of 1000 mg/Nm3 is an April fool’s joke as major culprits like Eskom and Sasol are nowhere near achieving these emissions levels. In fact, they never intended to obey the law, regardless of which limit was set. This is an unacceptable status quo that has to change.
Read the full article
