City of Cape Town commemorated World Environmental Health Day by organising a rally that supported the motto of cleaner air. The theme for the year 2025 is ‘clean air, healthy people’.
The celebration highlighted the impact of air pollution and how sustainable practices and policies can mitigate the effects.
Specialised Environmental Health Air Quality Management in Cape Town is responsible for implementing the National Environmental Management Air Quality Act of 2004. The Management focused mainly on regulating the industries to operate the listed activities in terms of the Act.
Reportedly, the unit issued and received over R2 million in administrative fines from industries and commercial entities in past financial year and failed to comply with their legal obligations under the Act and the Air Quality Management By-laws of the City of Cape Town.
As per the sources, the City of Cape Town recorded just 10 days where air pollution levels increased in the last financial year, in terms of air quality monitoring from the 14 fixed ambient air quality monitoring stations.
However, this generally demonstrates that the residents and visitors to Cape Town continues to experience good air quality.
Considering this, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham said that the Environmental Health is public health. The city is mainly focusing on air quality this year, there are many other priorities that the dedicated Environmental Health Practitioners tackle on daily basis in pursuit of safer communities, such as proper waste management, vector control and safe hygiene practices.
At present over 200 professionals are working in the area of environmental health of Cape Town. Also, they have millions of potential advocates in the residents, who are critically achieving their goals.
Notably, the City Health observed World Environmental Health Day with an event at the Wynberg Civic where experts from Specialised Health, the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch, and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology joined the City experts.
They also showcased the vital role environmental health plays in addressing issues such as air pollution and climate change.