Say Hello to CARB's Environmental Justice (EJ) Team!

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is committed to prioritizing environmental justice throughout all our work. To achieve this goal, we coordinate with our divisions to incorporate an environmental justice perspective in all our programs. We also engage with community members to provide them with the most complete information available about the air they breathe, and work with them to improve air quality in their neighborhoods. We strive to have meaningful dialogue with the public throughout the decision-making process so that all Californians can enjoy their right to a healthy environment at school, work and home.

Veronica Eady, Assistant Executive Officer for Environmental Justice, leads CARB’s EJ initiative and is building a talented team to help address the environmental concerns of our most impacted communities, especially those in disadvantaged and low-income communities.

Our EJ Team is currently comprised of Ryan Atencio, Trish Johnson, Desirey Morris, Rachel Pallatin and Jose Saldana. The team is currently working on the Community Air Grants Program, which is awarding grants to support the participation of community-based organizations and indigenous tribes in the implementation of AB 617. 

The team is also helping with the overall implementation of AB 617, including guidance and support of the AB 617 Consultation Group. The EJ team meets frequently with communities throughout California in areas where there is a strong environmental justice presence and is also expanding into areas where community-based EJ groups are scarce in order to build local capacity and make those communities aware of funds, grants, and other CARB programs that can improve local air quality.

Our team is passionate about environmental justice and committed to ushering environmental justice principles and ideas we’ve learned from the public into daily practice within CARB. We’re grateful to the many residents across the state who have invited us into their communities and allowed us to experience California’s air quality as they do every day. 

Thanks to the work of CARB and local air districts, California’s air quality has markedly improved over the last several decades. And despite a suite of strict air quality laws and regulations, California has grown to be the fifth largest economy in the world, bringing with it political power and prominence. Like good air quality, political and economic power are not spread equally. The EJ team will continue to strive for equity and environmental justice in all CARB programs, so that as California enjoys its economic success, that success does not come at the cost of the health and welfare of disadvantaged and low-income communities.