Air pollution levels vary across communities. People living in disadvantaged communities, near traffic, transportation of goods, and areas with multiple commercial and industrial sources, are exposed to higher levels of air pollution. As a result, they may experience adverse health effects and quality of life impacts. Disadvantaged communities may also be more vulnerable and less able to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Climate Justice Working Group included environmental burdens, potential climate change risk, and population and health vulnerability indicators to identify disadvantaged communities across the State. New York State is working to develop strategies to reduce local air pollution and increase climate resiliency in disadvantaged communities per the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

This collection of story maps includes community profiles and mobile air monitoring results for the 10 disadvantaged communities selected for the Community Air Monitoring Initiative. More technical story maps (peaks analysis, focus spot tool, mobile source indicator tool) explain the data analysis methods and the Community Air Monitoring Map shows the results and mapping layers for all 10 communities.

DEC is providing these story maps to show mapping tools and examples of the results on interactive maps. We will continue to work with the communities to get their input and refine the data analyses to identify sources and inform air pollution reduction strategies. To get started, we recommend you begin with DEC's story map tutorial and the first story map, Overview: Community Air Monitoring Initiative.