NSW air quality statements

Read our statements summarising NSW air quality monitoring data for each year and during significant pollution events, such as the 2019-20 bushfire season.

Annual air quality statements

Each year we summarise the data collected from the Air Quality Monitoring Network into an annual statement. These statements provide information on particle and gaseous pollutants monitored throughout the state, comparing levels to national standards and highlighting the sources and climatic conditions over the year. Focus areas are often included outlining significant events or regions of interest, such as the Hunter industry-funded networks.

NSW annual air quality statement 2023 is the latest statement available. New South Wales experienced good air quality, despite warmer and drier conditions compared to 2022, the best year on record for air quality. National standards were met at least 96% of the time in all regions, except for Newcastle Local, which met standards 84% of the time. Particles were the main source of air pollution mostly due to hazard reduction burns, bushfires, wood heater emissions, and dust.

  • NSW annual air quality statement 2022
    New South Wales experienced the best air quality on record across many measures in 2022. Pollutant levels were within national standards 100% of the time at many monitoring stations in 2022. There were no days with extremely poor air pollution levels.
  • NSW annual air quality statement 2021
    Air quality in New South Wales met national standards between 93% and 100% of the time across regions in 2021, an improvement compared with 2020.
  • NSW annual air quality statement 2020
    Air quality in New South Wales met national standards between 85% and 99% of the time across regions, a significant improvement compared to 2019.
  • NSW Annual Air Quality Statement 2019
    Air quality in New South Wales was greatly affected by the continuing intense drought conditions and unprecedented extensive bushfires during 2019, resulting in poorer air quality throughout the state.
  • NSW Annual Air Quality Statement 2018
    Air quality in New South Wales remained generally good during 2018. However, an increase in broad-scale dust storms from drought-affected areas across New South Wales and smoke from hazard reduction burns had a significant impact on the state's air quality.
  • NSW Annual Air Quality Statement 2017
    NSW air quality in 2017 continued to be generally good by international standards, although there was a small increase in the number of days above national standards compared with 2016.
  • NSW Annual Air Quality Statement 2016
    NSW air quality in 2016 continued to be generally good by international standards, although there was a small increase in the number of days above national standards compared with 2015.
  • NSW Annual Air Quality Statement 2015
    Air quality in New South Wales during 2015 was good by international standards. The Air Quality Index was in the very good, good or fair category for at least 95% of the time in the Sydney and Hunter regions and close to 100% of the time in all other regions, demonstrating that air quality consistently meets relevant standards.
  • NSW Annual Air Quality Statement 2014
    NSW air quality was better during 2014 than 2013, due mainly to a decrease in the number and extent of bushfires, despite record temperatures and below average rainfall, particularly in the north-east.
  • NSW Annual Air Quality Statement 2013
    Compared with previous years, New South Wales experienced poorer air quality during 2013, due mainly to drier and hotter weather through the middle of the year and the impacts of bushfires in September, October and November.

Special air quality statements

From time-to-time we provide special air quality statements highlighting seasons with significant air pollution events.

The NSW Air Quality Special Statement Spring–Summer 2019–20 describes the extreme air pollution, smoke and dust in the NSW bushfire season 2019–20.

Air quality newsletters and reports

In addition to the air quality statements, we regularly publish air quality newsletters and reports for particular regions and to cover specific air pollution events. These include: