Overall, Taranaki has excellent air quality.
This is because of the region’s windy and exposed nature, together with its dispersed and low population, absence of heavy industry and its low number of vehicles.
However, air quality in some locations is reduced through point source discharges or diffuse discharges of contaminants to air. Diffuse sources of emissions are the biggest contributors of emissions to air.
These include natural sources (sea spray, vegetation, landcover and farm animals) and human sources such as industries, homes or motor vehicles.
Natural sources emit far greater quantities than human sources.
The Council promotes tree-planting and other initiatives that will help to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, the cause of climate change.
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Air Quality
Clean, fresh air is an important and valued part of our quality of life in Taranaki.
In summary:
- On the basis of national guidelines, air quality in Taranaki is rated as excellent, enabling the Taranaki community to enjoy one of the healthiest regions in New Zealand in terms of air quality.
- There are no significant widespread pressures on air quality in the region so levels of monitoring of general air quality have been reduced, although the Council still carries out comprehensive monitoring of consented activities.
- 306 air discharge permits are held in Taranaki (compared to 230 in 2003).
- Consent conditions are generally more stringent, reflecting better control options and heightened community expectations.
- Major air discharge permit holders continue to make significant investments in emission controls and production technology.
- A few concerns exist about specific discharges to air, primarily involving odours, but these are managed, in order to reduce effects on neighbours as far as possible.
The Council’s Regional Air Quality Plan, which contains policies, methods and controls to maintain and enhance air quality in Taranaki, is in the process of being formally reviewed.
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Climate
Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have the ability to trap infra-red energy that would otherwise be radiated off the Earth’s surface.
The accumulation of these greenhouse gases in the upper atmosphere is leading to global warming and global climate change. Average New Zealand temperatures have increased by 0.3- 0.7ºC since 1950. In Taranaki:
- The significant sources of greenhouse gases are from agriculture, energy and petrochemical industries.
- Industry is the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions and agriculture is the largest source of methane.
- Emissions from industry and livestock are decreasing but emissions from soil and fuel use are increasing.
- Climate is expected to become marginally wetter overall, with increased frequency of extreme weather events.
- Climate change is expected to result in an increase in pasture productivity and an increase in cropping.
The Government and members of the international community are addressing climate change with a range of initiatives including those to implement the Kyoto Protocol. Initiatives at the regional level include management of point source emissions through the Regional Air Quality Plan and advocacy for sustainable land management which may lead to increased tree planting (which will mitigate greenhouse gas emissions) and better management of fertiliser (which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions).