(Copy) Air Quality in California
An overview of air quality statuses and context in the top three major cities in California
Los Angeles
Los Angeles contends with air pollution from both traffic and wildfires, which frequently degrade air quality, leading to health concerns. The city implements some emission controls and public transport promotion to tackle car-related pollution and responds to wildfires with evacuation orders and advisories.
San Diego
San Diego generally has pretty good air quality, but there are times when it can worsen, especially during traffic-heavy days and when wildfires affect the region. These fluctuations can lead to periods of moderate to poor air quality, affecting the health and well-being of its residents. Additionally, as a border city with Tijuana, Mexico, San Diego faces unique air quality challenges due to cross-border pollution and traffic.
San Jose
San Jose is a suburban city located close to both the ocean and San Franciso. It has moderate air quality which worsens with a rise in heat; so lower temperatures bring better air quality.
Take a deeper dive into what affects these cities' air qualities and explore vulnerable populations:
LOS ANGELES
Freeways_ poverty_ and air quality in Los Angeles
Much of central LA suffers from a high level of air pollution, although it can be seen that areas with higher poverty levels are more vulnerable to air pollution. More information can be found here .
Los Angeles: The Clean Up Green Up (CUGU) initiative, implemented in 2016, aims to address pollution issues in specific communities, often referred to as "toxic hot spots." It establishes "Green Zones" to reduce pollution near residential areas through stricter industry regulations, enhanced inspections, and increased community involvement. The initiative also assists local businesses in adopting environmentally friendly practices, leading to energy and cost savings. Ultimately, CUGU seeks to create cleaner, safer, and healthier neighborhoods while promoting job retention and creation.
“Our most vulnerable community members — the elderly, children, the indigenous, minorities, migrants and those with pre-existing illness — are suffering the most profound health impacts” - Dr. Elizabeth Barreras-Rivest (Emergency Medicine Physician)
Environmental activists rally at city hall over San Diego's Climate Action Implementation Plan
SAN DIEGO
San Diego: Organizations like the Environmental Health Coalition work hard in San Diego to organize rallies and support community initiatives for climate justice. They advocate for public transit to help cut down on emissions and help bridge the intersection of labor rights, healthcare access, and climate justice through advocating for public transit.
How air pollution is disproportionately impacting minority communities in San Diego
For many San Diegans public transit is a lifeline. They rely on it to get to work, school, medical care, and more. In collaboration with the San Diego Transportation Equity Working Group, Environmental Health Coalition launched the 10 Transit Lifelines, a campaign, narrated by transit riders, to uplifting the importance of public transit for building a healthier San Diego where everyone can thrive.
SAN JOSE
California Fires
In 2020, over 4% of the state's land burnt during the wildfire season. To specifically examine how these events affected San Jose, you can use this dashboard by selecting the year of interest (2020) on the top right and then use the zoom (+) button and drag the map to San Jose. The pie chart will show the ownership of burned land, the bar chart will indicate peak fire months, and you can find details about San Jose in the county list (Santa Clara County).
San Jose: Organizations like Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) recognize that under-resourced communities in the Bay Area and globally are disproportionately affected by climate change. For example, their breath of fresh air campaign aims to address climate resiliency and air pollution due to wildfires and its unequal impacts across communities:
For example, their breath of fresh air campaign aims to address climate resiliency and air pollution due to wildfires and its unequal impacts across communities:
Since 2016, CRC has focused on understanding the unique needs of residents in East Palo Alto and Belle Haven, fostering environmental awareness and empowering these communities to actively participate in resilience planning with a wide range of local stakeholders to build climate resilience in the Bay Area.
So, how are communities advocating for their air quality conditions and fighting for breathable air?
Images sourced from calgreenzones.org
To learn more about air quality and risks in your community, visit EJScreen:
EJScreen
