Our air program has operated across New South Wales for more than 70 years. The program’s broad purpose is to:

  • understand current air quality and its impact on communities and the environment
  • study how air quality has changed over time and how it is likely to change in the future
  • provide accurate, timely and useful data and information about air quality to communities and other interested stakeholders.
Two tall industrial stacks emit large plumes of white steam into a clear blue sky. The stacks dominate the image, with the steam drifting upward and spreading across the upper part of the frame. No surrounding buildings or landscape are visible.
Steam rises from twin stacks at a coal-fired industrial facility. 
Credit: Simone Cottrell/DCCEEW
Steam rises from twin stacks at a coal-fired industrial facility

Program logic

We have developed a program logic model that describes how the air program is designed to work, the outcomes it’s designed to achieve and how it connects to broader social, economic and environmental goals.

The program logic model is read from bottom to top. It starts with a statement about the program’s scope, then describes the foundational capabilities or underlying systems in place that enable our air program to function effectively. These include our capacity to monitor, model, forecast, collect and interpret data about air quality. 

Program goal

The main goal of the program is to protect human and environmental health. We monitor, assess and forecast the impacts of air pollution and report this to support air quality management in New South Wales. 

Our activities

Activities under the air program include to:

  • monitor air quality through a network of stations across the state
  • establish new air quality monitoring stations to increase air quality monitoring and reporting targets for the NSW Government publishing air quality data, such as hourly air pollutant concentration data
  • accurately forecast air pollution
  • collaborate with research partners to investigate the composition and sources of air pollutants to better inform the regulation of emissions by the NSW Environment Protection Authority
  • model and assess air pollution impacts and the benefits of implementing air quality management actions
  • analyse hazards induced by climate change and progress towards net zero targets
  • assess the impacts of climate change on vegetation
  • assess the impact of major energy transitions on air quality
  • continuously improve evaluation and modelling, knowledge building and understanding of clean air technologies, and communications platforms.

These activities relate to outputs such as products, services and other deliverables, which are critical to achieving program outcomes.

A person sits at a laboratory workstation adjusting a blue analytical instrument connected by tubing to calibration equipment. A computer monitor displays graphs and measurement data, while laboratory cabinets and additional instruments are visible in the background.
A technician calibrates air quality monitoring equipment in a laboratory while reviewing instrument performance data. 
Credit: Simone Cottrell/DCCEEW
A technician calibrates air quality monitoring equipment in a laboratory while reviewing instrument performance data

Program outcomes

Immediate

These outcomes help build awareness, participation and engagement in a shared understanding of our air program. The actions and activities of the program result in annual changes such as:

  • better end user understanding of how air quality is measured and awareness of local and regional air quality
  • increased access to air quality and net zero modelling information by the community, government and business decision makers, at the right time and scale
  • enhanced stakeholder engagement and collaboration
  • recognition of our expertise in net zero emissions pathway analysis and modelling.
Intermediate

These outcomes describe how the air quality products and services delivered by the program are used. They also encompass changes in knowledge, behaviour, practice and skills that occur over 2 to 4 years. For example:

  • communities use information about air quality to limit exposure to pollutants
  • end users, such as public health organisations, government and environmental agencies, change how they use air quality information for risk assessment and cost benefit analyses, including the impact of net zero emissions
  • scientific information about air quality is used in decision making and policy making
  • net zero emissions modelling and reporting is used to track progress towards net zero objectives.
End of program

These outcomes describe contributions the program is expected to make to broader environmental, societal and communication goals, such as:

  • enhanced air quality and a healthier environment for New South Wales
  • improved decisions on environmental and public health.

Outcomes of the air program also connect to broader social, economic and environmental goals.

More information