Multi-Point Plan to Address Air Quality Concerns in the South Durban Basin

The Multi-Point Plan to Address Air Quality Concerns in the South Durban Basin (SDB-MPP) received an initial R30 million in funding in 2000 with the objectives of determining the health and environmental risks present in the area stemming from air pollution.  The South Durban Basin (SDB), located in KwaZulu-Natal, is home to much of the heavy industry in that province.  The SDB contributes roughly 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through industries such as 2 oil refineries, a paper pulp plant, a sugar refinery, chemical industries, South Africa's busiest port, an airport, and a variety of other smaller industries.  The area is also home to 200 000 people, and residential communities are interspersed amongst the various industries.  At least 1 primary school is within a few blocks of an oil refinery.  The situation is exacerbated by the geographic features of the area that prevent the dispersion of pollution, especially in winter, and by the presence of major traffic routes.  This disastrous set of circumstances is a result of poor planning under the apartheid system that considered it advantageous to locate people near the workplace with little or no concern for the health risks associated with the cumulative effects of air pollution from the industries.  

The project formulated a plan to reduce and conquer pollution through mitigating the use of dirty fuels in local industry with the help of a policy review and new legal framework.  The eThekwini Municipality followed an intensive process of inter-governmental co-operation from various levels and departments of government along with multi-stakeholder approach with community members and local businesses to address the health issues caused by bad air quality.  The implementing agent of the MPP is the eThekwini Municipal Health Department, which uses a multi-disciplinary team of chemists, engineers, data analysts, health department officials and administrators.  Notwithstanding the effectiveness of this team, a critical component of the project's implementation has been the involvement of the community and industry at each phase of its development, improve community buy-in.

2 different panels have been established that meet every 2 months to monitor and discuss the progress of the MPP.  The first is the South Durban Basin Inter-governmental Coordinating Committee, and consists of representatives from various interested departments of all 3 tiers of government.  The second is the South Durban Stakeholders Consultative Forum, and includes representatives from the implementing authority, the community, the various industries, and labour. 

The efforts put forth by the SDB-MPP have resulted in a 45% reduction in sulphur-dioxide emissions, bringing the South Durban Basin into compliance with the World Health Organisation's annual average guidelines.  This was achieved through detailed environmental analysis of air-quality data from a monitoring network tallying chemical emissions from 16 stations situated across the area.  The greatest testament to the success of the project was that it laid the foundation for the Air Quality Management Act of 2005.

Innovation

One of the most innovative aspects of this project was the approach taken towards environmental management through the use of a website that made important information available to interested parties.  Statistics reflecting current levels of pollution are now posted freely online which allows data to be collected, interpreted and solutions acted on, on an ongoing basis.  Also, the various government departments must be commended for their role in initiating such a cutting edge programme 

Effectiveness

Today, the programme operates 16 air-quality monitoring stations that it possible to pinpoint emission sources throughout the SDB.  The stations are fully automated systems of scientific monitoring equipment strategically positioned across the region.  The data is transmitted to a central hub in the health department offices, and is interpreted using an adapted version of the Air Pollution Surveillance and Information System (AirQUIS) developed by the Norwegian Institute for Air Research.

Poverty Impact

The improved air quality has helped reduce potential health problems for poor households. During studies done before the project's inception, many ailments linked to dirty air conditions were found. The improvements made due to this project reduce potentially high medical expenses and loss of productivity due to ailments such as asthma and other problems related to poor air quality.

Sustainability

Continued funding has been secured from local governments in the municipality, and by the international institution DANIDA to the tune of R6 million per year to cover operational costs.

Replication

This project has established a very good framework for replication. All activities have been documented and a very scientific methodology has been adopted. If similar funding and staffing capacity is established elsewhere, this project can be replicated.

Partnerships

• National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
• National Department of Health
• Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs
• eThekwini Municipality
• Local businesses
• DANIDA
• Norwegian Institute for Air Research