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Check the air quality in your area Learn how to read air quality Learn about the NSW Air program Explore the NSW Clean Air Strategy Explore health advice

Why air quality is important

Clean air is important for the health of our communities, the environment, and our economy.

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water monitors, analyses, and distributes information about air quality and air pollution.

NSW Health uses this information to protect the community’s health and wellbeing.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority regulates air quality and implements measures for managing and reporting air pollution.

Joggers run along walkway on the headland overlooking the beach at Newcastle
Joggers run along walkway on the headland overlooking the beach at Newcastle. 
Credit: John Spencer/DCCEEW
Learn about air quality

Learn about air pollutants and their national standards, air quality categories and commonly used terminology.

Two people walking along asphalt path by Sydney Harbour, wearing masks, with city lost in smoke haze behind them.
Hazardous bushfire smoke blanketing Sydney CBD in December 2020 . 
Credit: Getty/Bloomberg
About the Air program

Learn about the air program, including its history, purpose, objectives, related policies, and research activities.

Staff monitoring air particulate matter at Chullora monitoring station
Staff monitoring air particulate matter at Chullora monitoring station. 
Credit: S Pieta Vivers/DPE
Discover our air quality monitoring network

Our statewide network of air quality monitoring stations records pollutant data that informs the public, researchers, public policy and decision makers.

Two staff members review air quality monitoring data at a workstation with dual computer screens. One screen displays graphs and measurement data, while the other shows a map-based monitoring system. The office desk contains a keyboard, telephone and computer equipment.
Air Monitoring Quality Systems and Reporting RAW data. 
Credit: Simone Cottrell/DCCEEW
Explore air quality data

Learn how we measure and record air pollution. You can also explore historical air quality data, current air quality in your region and see the Sydney air quality forecast.

A laboratory technician weighs particulate matter (PM2.5) collected on air quality monitoring filters in a controlled laboratory environment. Viewed through a window marked “Particulate Matter,” the workstation contains precision scales, sampling equipment and laboratory instruments used to measure fine particle pollution.
Measuring particulate pollution from air monitoring. Weighing particulate matter PM 2.5 from air quality monitoring filters. 
Credit: Simone Cottrell/DCCEEW
Find our research and reports

Find our latest air quality research, reports and insights.

Aerial view of a coastal hazard reduction burn at Diggers Camp, with dense white and brown smoke plumes rising from bushland and spreading across the landscape. Small flames are visible beneath the smoke canopy, while a waterway and distant hills can be seen in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Smoke plumes from coastal hazard reduction burn, Diggers Camp. 
Credit: John Lugg/DCCEEW
Latest news

Air quality readings are updated hourly.