Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, has issued Decree No. (2) of 2024 regarding the air quality system in Abu Dhabi.
The objectives of this system are to protect the environment, enhance ambient air quality, lower the amount of air pollutants released by both stationary and mobile sources, and regulate noise levels within allowable limits throughout the emirate.
All projects and businesses operating in Abu Dhabi are subject to the air quality system’s regulations, and to safeguard the surrounding air, their operations must get an environmental license from EAD. To carry out the provisions of this system, the agency will draft the executive decisions, practice guides, and other guidelines and publish them as appendices.
The directive states that EAD will use environmental monitoring networks and sporadic sampling to monitor and assess ambient air pollutants in compliance with the upper limits for concentrations of these pollutants.
To determine monitoring locations and ambient air contaminants that need to be measured, coordination with pertinent authorities will take place. Along with developing plans and actions to expand the air quality monitoring network, EAD will assess the efficacy and performance of ambient air quality monitoring stations.
EAD is responsible for managing ambient air quality requirements, among other things. This entails working with the relevant authorities to establish the upper bounds on ambient air pollution concentrations in Abu Dhabi to safeguard environmental systems and public health.
EAD will also collaborate with the authorities to make sure that the maximum concentration limits of pertinent and applicable ambient air pollutants are not exceeded.
To show the degree to which natural sources contribute to instances of ambient air quality exceeding norms, EAD will also create, review, and advise on environmental studies and research. Together with the relevant authorities, the agency will create reaction plans and preventative measures for situations where ambient air pollution concentrations from natural sources exceed permissible limits.