California's Air Pollution: Who Are The Stakeholders?

California has some of the worst air pollution in the United States, with 6 of the country's 10 most polluted cities located in the state. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the lead agency for climate change programs and oversees all air pollution control efforts in California. CARB's mission is to protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources by reducing air pollutants while considering the effects on the economy. CARB holds monthly public meetings and engages with various stakeholders, including policymakers, industry and scientific experts, public health advocates, regulated businesses, and low-income communities. The state's air pollution challenges are influenced by various factors, including its large population, significant port industry, growing economy, traffic, diesel trucks, construction, agriculture, and domestic emissions. California has implemented stringent emissions standards and pioneered innovative solutions to address air pollution and combat climate change. The state's efforts to improve air quality and stakeholders' concerns about balancing environmental protection with economic growth are ongoing.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB)

CARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through the effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering the effects on the state's economy. The board sets stricter emissions standards for a range of statewide pollution sources, including vehicles, fuels, and consumer products. It also establishes health-based ambient air quality standards to identify safe levels of outdoor pollutants for the public, including sensitive individuals such as children and the elderly.

CARB has identified about 200 pollutants as air toxics and works to reduce emissions of these toxic air contaminants (TACs). It also sets standards for traditional pollutants like ozone and particulate matter. To address pollution from commercial vessels, CARB developed the Commercial Harbor Craft regulation, targeting diesel-powered vessels operating in California's ports and harbors.

Additionally, CARB has implemented programs such as the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Incentive Program, also known as Fueling Alternatives, and the Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Program to promote clean transportation and reduce smog-forming pollutants. CARB also plays a crucial role in verifying automakers' emissions compliance at its renowned laboratory in Riverside.

CARB holds monthly public meetings to review progress and consider new approaches to cleaning California's air. The board actively engages with industry and scientific experts, public health advocates, regulated businesses, and low-income communities to address the challenges posed by air pollution.

The impact on public health

Air pollution is a pressing public health concern in California, with over 90% of Californians breathing unhealthy levels of air pollutants annually. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is tasked with protecting the public from the adverse effects of air pollution and mitigating climate change. CARB identifies and regulates various air pollutants, including traditional pollutants like ozone and particulate matter, and toxic air contaminants (TACs) that can cause severe long-term health issues such as cancer.

The impact of air pollution on public health in California is significant and far-reaching. Firstly, it exacerbates respiratory conditions such as asthma and contributes to increased hospitalizations. Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing heart and lung diseases, are at heightened risk. For instance, exposure to diesel particulate matter and pollutants from vehicles and industries has been linked to cancer and other serious illnesses.

Secondly, air pollution has been associated with premature deaths related to cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. The presence of toxic air pollutants, particularly diesel exhaust particles, benzene in gasoline, and formaldehyde in consumer products, poses severe health risks. Additionally, climate change resulting from air pollution contributes to extreme high temperatures, leading to heat-related illnesses and deaths.

Moreover, air pollution disproportionately affects specific communities in California. Urbanized communities located near busy freight corridors, freeways, ports, and rail yards experience higher levels of air pollution. These areas often overlap with low-income and disadvantaged communities, exacerbating health inequalities. Efforts to improve air quality, such as the Clean Truck Check program, which mandates proper pollution control equipment on heavy-duty trucks, are making a positive difference.

Lastly, air pollution has economic implications for California. The health impacts of poor air quality result in healthcare costs and lost productivity. Additionally, certain economic trends, such as recessions, can influence air pollution levels and subsequently impact public health. For example, regulatory activities during recessions may lead to reduced industrial output and lower air pollution levels, as seen with improved air quality in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Sources of air pollution

California has some of the worst air pollution in the country, with over 90% of Californians breathing unhealthy levels of one or more air pollutants during some part of the year. This poor air quality has resulted in thousands of fatalities each year, with a 2021 study estimating that exposure to particle pollution led to over 3,000 deaths and nearly 5,500 new childhood asthma cases in the California Bay Area alone.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the lead agency for climate change programs and oversees all air pollution control efforts in California. It establishes health-based ambient air quality standards to identify outdoor pollutant levels that are safe for the public, including vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. CARB has set standards for traditional pollutants like ozone and particulate matter, as well as identified toxic air contaminants (TACs) that may cause serious long-term health effects even at low levels.

• Mobile sources: On-road vehicles like automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles, as well as off-road vehicles such as trains, ships, aircraft, and agricultural equipment. The transportation industry is a significant contributor to the state's atmospheric pollution, accounting for about 40% of it.
• Stationary sources: Point sources include approximately 13,000 individual facilities, such as electric power plants, refineries, and industrial developments like mining operations and gasoline stations.
• Area-wide sources: These sources are mainly linked to human activity and include consumer products, architectural coatings, and fuel combustion from vehicles and engines.
• Commercial activities: California is home to the Port of Los Angeles, one of the busiest container ports in the Western Hemisphere, as well as 12 major cargo airports. These commercial activities account for nearly a third of the state's economy but are responsible for half of its air pollution.
• Wildfires: The state's hot and dry climate, aggravated by climate change, makes California prone to wildfires, which have become more frequent and intense in recent years.

To address these issues, California has implemented various measures, such as the Clean Truck Check program, stricter emission standards for diesel vehicles and ships, and efforts to promote electric vehicles.

Efforts to reduce pollution

Efforts to reduce air pollution in California are led by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which establishes health-based ambient air quality standards and identifies toxic air contaminants (TACs). CARB works with local air pollution control districts to reduce air pollution from all sources, including vehicles, fuels, and consumer products.

CARB has implemented a range of programs to address pollution, particularly in heavily urbanized communities and those near busy freight corridors. These programs have resulted in significant improvements, with cars today being 99% cleaner than in the 1970s, leading to overall reduced air pollution, shorter hospital stays, and fewer missed school days.

To further reduce pollution, CARB encourages individuals to make environmentally conscious choices. This includes walking, biking, or taking public transportation whenever possible, as well as reducing energy consumption and choosing sustainable products. When purchasing a new car, individuals are advised to select the most efficient, lowest-polluting, or zero-emission electric vehicle.

The Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) is also actively involved in improving California's air quality. One of their recent victories includes the creation of California's Clean Truck Check program, which mandates the proper functioning of pollution control equipment on heavy-duty trucks. Additionally, CCA aims to educate the next generation about air quality through initiatives like the All About Air Quality Bootcamp.

California's unique geographical features, such as its plains and valleys surrounded by mountains, naturally trap air pollution. This, coupled with the state's warm and sunny climate, exacerbates the challenge of reducing air pollution. Despite these obstacles, California has been a pioneer in developing effective approaches to combat air pollution and climate change, setting standards not only for the nation but also for the world.

Climate change and rising temperatures

California is already experiencing the impacts of a changing climate, with observable shifts in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Average summer temperatures in California have risen by approximately 3°F (1.8°C) since 1896, with more than half of that increase occurring since the early 1970s. If global greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rates, the state is likely to experience further warming of more than 2°F by 2040, more than 4°F by 2070, and by more than 6°F by 2100.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is charged with protecting the public from the harmful effects of air pollution and developing programs and actions to fight climate change. CARB has set standards for eight "traditional pollutants," such as ozone and particulate matter, and identifies other air pollutants as toxic air contaminants (TACs). Climate change and rising temperatures will pose additional risks to public health. Warmer temperatures will lead to more smog, which can damage lungs and increase childhood asthma, respiratory and heart disease, and death. As temperatures rise, the number of days of extreme heat events will also increase, causing a higher risk of injury or death from dehydration, heatstroke, heart attack, and respiratory problems.

Rising temperatures and climate change are also increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires in California. In 2021, California experienced 4 of the 20 largest wildfires in its history, with 8,000 wildfires burning over 2.5 million acres across the state. A model developed for California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment projected up to a 77% increase in the average area burned and a 50% increase in the frequency of fires exceeding 25,000 acres by 2100.

Sea-level rise is already accelerating along the California coast and will continue to rise substantially over the coming decades, threatening coastal communities, natural resources, cultural sites, and infrastructure. Approximately 85% of California’s population lives and works in coastal counties. The sea level along California's coasts has risen nearly 8 inches in the past century and is projected to rise by as much as 20 to 55 inches by 2100. A 55-inch sea level rise could put nearly half a million people at risk of flooding by 2100 and threaten $100 billion in property and infrastructure.

To address these challenges, California has implemented a range of measures, including the Clean Truck Check program, which requires pollution control equipment on heavy-duty trucks to be operating properly, and the goal of reaching 8 million electric vehicles on California roads by 2030. California has also set stricter emissions standards for vehicles, fuels, and consumer products, and is working to reduce air pollution from businesses and stationary facilities, such as oil refineries and auto body shops.

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