Air or the atmosphere is essential for all life on earth as it regulates global weather and climate. The atmosphere maintains an average air temperature of 15 degrees celcius that is necessary to support life on earth.

The atmosphere can be divided into three main regions: the mesosphere, stratosphere and the troposphere. Human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, impact on the two atmospheric levels closest to the earth, the stratosphere and the troposphere (Environment Protection Authority 2000).

Environmental air quality is considered at three levels (Environment Protection Authority 1996):

• global; ozone layer depletion and climate change as a result of increased greenhouse gas levels
• regional; photochemical smog, fine particle pollution and nitrogen dioxide
• local; carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead (and other air bourne toxins) and odour.

The Department of Environment and Conservation (former Environment Protection Authority), monitors regional air quality twice daily throughout NSW. Air quality results are presented as the regional pollution index (RPI) and categorised as low medium or high readings. A high pollution index reading corresponds to pollution levels that exceed health or visibility goals.

Woollahra falls within the Central East Sydney airshed.

Daily RPI readings 

Council projects

Energy Savings Action Plan

Cities for Climate Protection (CCP ^TM) Program

Regional street lighting review

Green Power