CARB Environmental Justice Blog

California Climate Investments (CCI) is a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment-particularly in disadvantaged communities. CCI-funded projects are administered by 17 State agencies, and have included affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more.  At least 35% of these investments are concentrated in disadvantaged and low-income communities.    On March 12 th , community members, advocates, technical assistance providers, outreach partners, local government, and State agencies gathered in Riverside to hear from communities about how the CCI programs can fund strong projects that meet community needs. Just like CCI more broadly, this day was a joint effort organized and made possible by the State agencies administerin

As part of CARB’s implementation of AB 617 , CARB established a consultation group to serve as an additional forum to discuss the development of the Community Air Protection Program. Dr. John Balmes , a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and member of the California Air Resources Board, chairs the group. “I am excited to be working to guide the implementation of AB 617 with the Consultation Group. AB 617 is a ground-breaking law with the goal of improving the health of communities that have been most impacted by air pollution through identification of local “hot spots” and the development of plans to reduce emissions from those hot spots. The members of the Consultation Group include community-based organizations representing disadvantaged communities, public health advocates, leaders of large air quality management districts, industry representatives, and several members from academic institutions. I look forward to working with the members o