CARB Environmental Justice Blog

Photo of Port of Stockton taken by Matt Holmes Stockton residents are actively developing and implementing their AB 617 Community Emissions Reduction Plan (CERP) to address air pollution. Since January 2021, students and faculty from several universities have been collaborating in the fight for clean air. With input from community leaders, the student teams highlighted here have analyzed emissions reduction strategies and initiatives presented in the CERP to provide input to community groups. Story Map from UC Berkeley Researchers Caleb Bray, Aneeshi Desai, Lauder Fairchok, and Hailey Rowbatham on Tree Cover Check out the StoryMaps made by UC Berkeley students in a Civil & Environmental Engineering design course on emissions reduction strategies:  Urban Greening and Food Systems - vegetative barriers, tree canopy, food access and farmers’ markets, commercial cooking emissions Industry - strategies for the Port of Stockton, DTE, and other industry, regulations and enforcement ...

The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation ( CEC ) is launching a first-of-its-kind US$2 million grant program, EJ4Climate, to support environmental justice and climate resilience for underserved, vulnerable communities, and Indigenous communities across North America. Initiated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the CEC established this new grant program to support underserved and overburdened communities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States as they prepare for climate-related impacts. This program will provide funding directly to Indigenous communities and community-based organizations to deliver environmental justice and advance local solutions to adapt to climate change. “Climate change touches every aspect of our lives and it acts as a threat multiplier for our most vulnerable communities,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan who chaired the recent 2021 CEC Council Session . “That’s why I’m honored to join our partners to announce the E...

Stockton residents live with a significant air pollution burden and one of the highest childhood asthma rates in the state. Since January 2021, community organizations in Stockton and students and faculty from several universities have been collaborating in the fight for clean air. With input from community leaders, the student teams highlighted here have analyzed air permits, identified and mapped top emitters, pollutants, and changes in emissions, studied and mapped health impacts, and compiled resources on how residents can protect themselves and their families (see examples at the bottom of this post). Watch the recording of the April 14 event, Fighting for Clean Air: Community-Academic Partnerships for Clean Air in Stockton , including presentations by Stockton residents, and students at Stanford and Santa Clara universities. The presentations documented as persistent problems the disproportionate presence of large air pollution emitters near Stockton neighborhoods with lower inco...

  Having trouble viewing thi s email? View it as a Web page . Upcoming Deadline for Community Air Grant Applications Applications must be submitted by 5pm on October 1, 2021 The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is pleased to announce that the upcoming deadline for Community Air Grants Program (Air Grants Program)  applications is October 1, 2021 by 5pm. Applications submitted after 5pm, October 1, 2021 will not be accepted or considered. The following are eligible to apply for a Community Air Grants: 1) A California community-based organization holding a current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 2) A California organization, not affiliated with a local, municipal, city, county, or state governmental agency or entity,...

  Hi Friends,   The Democracy Beyond Elections coalition (DBE) is launching a campaign to educate stakeholders and support implementation of community-led decision making in the allocation of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This campaign will build the infrastructure, education, and organizing muscle needed for winning participatory practices with future funds and bills beyond ARPA.    Now, we are excited to support local and state organizations that are currently working to equitably allocate ARPA funds by advocating for participatory budgeting or other participatory democracy practices!   We are offering $1,000 - $10,000 for short term (3 -5 month) contracts to support groups' on the ground efforts to educate community members and decision makers on participatory budgeting and participatory de...

  The California Air Resources Board is currently working on the preliminary concept on potential amendments to the In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation. The current Regulation requires fleets to meet their performance requirements, report and label their equipment, and limit idling to 5 minutes among other requirements. This Regulation is applicable to all self-propelled off-road diesel vehicles that are 25 horsepower or greater. Typically, this is equipment used in construction, mining, industrial operations, and other industries. These amendments are expected to lower emissions of criteria pollutants (oxides of nitrogen) and toxic air contaminants (particulate matter), but its provisions may impact disadvantaged communities. We would like to involve community groups in the amendment process so that we can better understand how this regulation may impact California communities, and get feedback on how CARB can minimize any negative impacts and maximize the benefits. ...

  Virtual One-Stop Event Free, informational event for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle owners and operators One-Stop Truck and Bus Event - October 7, 2021 The California Air Resources Board (CARB) invites you to a free Virtual One-Stop Trucking event. Attendees can access one-on-one assistance, exhibitors, and hear presentations on regulatory compliance, financial assistance, and new technology options. Presentations topics for this online event will include: On-Road and Off-Road Regulations Vehicle and Engine Certification and Compliance Program CARB’s Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emissions Programs Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance Program New Vehicle Technology and How to Electrify a Fleet CARB Enforcement Inspection ...

Wednesday, September 15 1-2 pm ET Register   Citizen science encompasses a wide variety of kinds of projects that produce data — from community science activities to public participation in scientific research. A goal of the scientific process is to produce unbiased, transparent, and reproducible data, regardless of who is doing the work and when it is occurring. A quality assurance project plan, or project plan, provides the framework to produce these type of data, increasing the chance they can used for their intended purpose and maximum impact. Join this webinar to learn how citizen science groups have successfully integrated quality assurance approaches into their projects to help answer their community’s environmental and public health questions. Speakers Jill Carr Coastal Data Scientist @Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership   Brian Magi Associate Professor of Atmospheric Sciences @UNC Charlotte Member of the Board of Directors,...