South Africa: Portfolio Committee Briefed on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Commemorates International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Nqabisa Gantsho joins the global community in commemorating the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, observed annually on 7 September, and calls for renewed commitment to protecting the constitutional right of all South Africans to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing. The day serves as a reminder that clean air is fundamental to human health, environmental sustainability and economic development. Yet many South Africans continue to live and work in areas where air quality remains a significant concern, particularly in industrial and mining regions where communities are exposed to pollution associated with energy production, transport emissions and industrial activities. South Africa continues to face the challenge of balancing economic growth and industrial development with environmental protection. Communities in priority air quality management areas, including parts of Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, have for many years raised concerns about the impact of poor air quality on public health, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, old