National Clean Air Agreement
In December 2015, Australia’s environment ministers established the National Clean Air Agreement (NCAA). The agreement seeks to ensure that the community continues to enjoy clean air and address the impacts on human health and the environment.
The agreement focuses on actions to reduce air pollution and improve air quality through cooperative action between industry and government at the national, state and local levels. The agreement is designed to incorporate a range of existing, new and complementary measures to improve Australia’s air quality.
In May 2021, the Senior Officials Group, comprising Commonwealth, State and Territory representatives, agreed on a 2021-2023 work plan outlining the roles, responsibilities, actions and timeframes for implementation. The work plan details the rolling program of activities to respond to air quality priorities including the following actions:
- improving standards for reporting and monitoring air pollution and ensuring national consistency of public air quality information, alerts programs and health advice.
- developing a nationally consistent Air Pollution Emissions Inventory.
- measuring and assessing motor vehicle emissions.
- building knowledge, education and awareness on how to respond to bushfire smoke, in response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.
The work plan is formally reviewed by the Environment Ministers every 2 years to ensure that actions under the NCAA is relevant and to maintain accountability for delivery.
