Damon Mcknight
Australia is known for its clean air quality, ranking 10th in the world in 2019. However, the country is vulnerable to short-term extreme pollution spikes caused by bushfires and dust storms. In 2019, 13 of the top 15 most polluted cities for annual PM2.5 concentration were in New South Wales, while 23 out of 24 of Australia's least polluted cities for PM2.5 pollution were in Tasmania. Within Tasmania, the cleanest location is the coastal town of St Helens, followed by Emu River and Fingal. Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is also known for its cleanliness and focus on sustainability.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cleanest State in Australia | Tasmania |
| Cleanest City in Tasmania | St Helens |
| Cleanest Air in Tasmania | North-Western Tasmania on the Cape Grim Peninsula |
| Cleanest City in Australia | Adelaide |
| Cleanest City in the World | Vienna, Austria |
| Australia's Ranking in Global Air Quality | 10th cleanest country out of 98 countries |
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What You'll Learn
Tasmania's air quality
Tasmania, an island state located 240 km south of mainland Australia, is known for its clean air quality, ranking among the best in the world. According to IQAir's 2019 World Air Quality Report, 23 out of 24 Australian locations with the lowest levels of airborne PM2.5 pollution were in Tasmania. The coastal town of St Helens, in particular, stood out with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 2.4 μg/m3, making it one of the cleanest places globally for PM2.5 levels. Other areas in Tasmania, such as Emu River and Fingal, also boasted exceptionally low PM2.5 readings.
Despite Tasmania's impressive air quality, it is not immune to occasional spikes in pollution. These spikes can be attributed to various factors, including wood heaters, bushfires, and landscape burning. While Tasmania's levels of particulate matter are generally low compared to other parts of the world, these short-term extreme pollution events can have a significant impact on the air quality.
Particulate matter, especially PM2.5, is the primary pollutant of concern in Tasmania. These tiny airborne particles, measuring 2.5 microns in diameter, can infiltrate the human system deeply and even enter the bloodstream. Their microscopic size makes them highly hazardous to human health, potentially causing a range of adverse health effects, including respiratory issues and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and lung cancer.
While Tasmania has relatively low levels of ambient air pollution, it's important to recognize that even low levels of air pollution can have negative consequences on health. Exposure to air pollution can aggravate existing respiratory conditions, trigger short-term symptoms like eye and throat irritation, and contribute to long-term risks of developing serious illnesses.
The Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, located on the Cape Grim peninsula at Tasmania's northwestern tip, has played a crucial role in monitoring the state's air quality. Its remote location, far from human-influenced pollution sources, has helped establish Tasmania's reputation for having some of the cleanest air in the world.
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Adelaide's sustainability
Australia is among the cleanest countries in the world, and within Australia, Tasmania is the cleanest state for air quality. 23 out of 24 of Australia's least polluted cities for PM2.5 pollution in 2019 were based in Tasmania, with the coastal town of St Helens being the cleanest location.
Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is also making significant strides towards sustainability. The Adelaide Sustainability Centre is a public space and community hub that aims to bring like-minded individuals and groups together to work towards a sustainable future and connect with the environment. The South Australian government also supports Green Adelaide, an organisation working towards a cooler, greener, wilder, and climate-resilient metropolitan area.
The Adelaide Sustainable Building Network (ASBN) is another key player in Adelaide's sustainability journey. The ASBN advocates for the adoption of sustainable and ecologically beneficial practices within all industries linked to the built environment. They believe that meaningful change starts with collaboration, so they bring together a community of architects, engineers, designers, planners, educators, and innovators who are shaping the future of South Australia's built environment. ASBN focuses on regenerative landscapes, low-carbon materials, and passive solar design, aiming to build not just for today but for generations to come.
In addition to ASBN, the Decarbonising Construction in SA Summit showcases how South Australian organisations are actively lowering carbon in construction. The summit features industry leaders and innovators presenting carbon-neutral construction methods, low-carbon building practices, and projects using sustainable materials.
Overall, Adelaide is taking important steps towards sustainability, from community initiatives to industry innovations. These efforts contribute to the broader goal of making South Australia a leader in environmental protection and climate resilience.
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Australia's air pollution
Australia's air quality is generally considered to be among the cleanest in the world. However, the country is susceptible to short-term extreme pollution spikes caused by natural events such as bushfires and dust storms. These events can temporarily cause some parts of Australia to have some of the worst air quality globally.
In 2019, Australia ranked as the 10th cleanest country out of 98 in IQAir's World Air Quality Report. The country achieved a countrywide average PM2.5 level of 8.0 μg/m3, which met the World Health Organization's annual PM2.5 target of 10 μg/m3. However, during the 2019-2020 bushfires, Australia's air quality was significantly impacted, and the daily reports of 24-hour average PM10 and PM2.5 measurements were unsatisfactory.
PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, is one of the most hazardous pollutants to human health. These microscopic particles, measuring 2.5 microns in diameter, can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and enter the bloodstream upon inhalation, leading to various adverse health effects. While all Australian cities have maintained a "very good" assessment for PM2.5 since 2016, peak reported levels in each year remain above the air quality NEPM standard in all capital cities.
To address air pollution, Australia has implemented the National Environment Protection Measure for Ambient Air Quality (Air NEPM), which sets standards for pollutants such as carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. While most pollutants meet the NEPM standards, particulate matter and ozone frequently exceed the 24-hour exposure limits. The Australian government works with states and territories to improve air quality and reduce exposure to air pollution through initiatives like the National Clean Air Agreement.
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Cape Grim's air pollution station
Australia is generally considered to have some of the cleanest air in the world, although it is vulnerable to short-term extreme pollution spikes caused by bushfires and dust storms. In 2019, Australia ranked as the 10th cleanest country out of 98 in IQAir's World Air Quality Report.
Tasmania, in particular, is known for its clean air. In 2019, 23 out of 24 of Australia's least polluted cities for PM2.5 pollution were based in Tasmania, with the coastal town of St Helens ranking as the cleanest location.
The Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, located in Tasmania, is a joint initiative of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The station was established in April 1976 as a result of the Australian government's commitment to the United Nations Environment Program in the early 1970s to monitor and study global atmospheric composition for climate change purposes.
Cape Grim is one of only three World Meteorological Organization global super-stations for measuring carbon dioxide and is considered an ideal site due to its isolation and the fact that the air sampled is unaffected by regional pollution sources. The data collected at Cape Grim has been used in hundreds of research papers on climate change and atmospheric pollution, and the station serves as a training ground for the next generation of climate scientists.
The Cape Grim station measures a wide range of pollutants, including major and minor greenhouse gases, ozone-depleting chemicals, aerosols, reactive gases, radon, solar radiation, the chemical composition of rainwater, mercury, and persistent organic pollutants. The Bureau of Meteorology funds and operates the station, while CSIRO analyses and models the data, making it available to the Australian government, industry, the public, and international agencies.
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Australia's water sanitation
Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world and is also one of the highest consumers of water per capita. Water supply and sanitation are therefore key issues for the country. The acquisition and usage of water are of great concern to Australians, and the government has recognised the need to address these issues.
Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and water resource management (WRM) are key development, foreign policy, and security issues for Australia. WASH refers to the provision of drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services to communities, while WRM refers to the management of water resources on a large scale, including dam storage, river basin management, and water for agriculture. Australia has world-leading expertise in both these sectors, and its government has been a strong supporter of WASH and WRM for decades.
At the federal level, the Minister for Water is responsible for water policies. State-level regulation is handled by various agencies, including Water Commissions, Environmental Protection Agencies, and Competition Authorities. These operate under different departments, such as Natural Resources and Water Departments and Trade Departments. For example, in Queensland, the Queensland Water Commission is responsible for water policy under the Water Act 2000. In Adelaide, South Australia, water and sanitation services are provided by SA Water, which retains ownership of all infrastructure and sets service standards.
Australia has also taken steps to address water scarcity by constructing desalination plants in major cities like Perth, Sydney, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, and Adelaide. These plants reduce the cities' vulnerability to droughts by providing alternative sources of water.
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Frequently asked questions
Tasmania, specifically the North-Western region on the Cape Grim Peninsula, is known for having the cleanest air in the world. 23 out of 24 of Australia's least polluted cities for PM2.5 pollution in 2019 were based in Tasmania.
PM2.5 refers to microscopic airborne particles of 2.5 microns in diameter. These particles are hazardous because they can penetrate deep into the human system upon inhalation and enter the bloodstream, causing a range of health effects.
The coastal town of St Helens is the cleanest city in Tasmania, with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 2.4 μg/m3.
Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is known for its cleanliness, focus on sustainability, and care for the environment. Adelaide has a sustainability program, aims to become a "Water Sensitive City", and is working towards becoming one of the world's first carbon-neutral cities.
