Air Pollution Accountability: Who's Responsible?

Air pollution is a significant global issue, causing millions of deaths and health issues worldwide each year. It is caused by the contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical, or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. While there are global efforts to tackle air pollution, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), which provides technical support and guidance to its member states, the responsibility for addressing air pollution often falls on national and local governments. For example, in the United Kingdom, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) sets air quality targets for local government representatives responsible for managing air quality in cities. Similarly, in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is authorized by the Clean Air Act to regulate emissions and work with state, local, and tribal governments to reduce air pollution.

The World Health Organization (WHO)

The WHO's main objectives are to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. It works with all Member States to support them in achieving the highest standard of health for all people. WHO staff advise ministries of health and other sectors on public health issues and provide support to plan, implement, and monitor health programs. The organization also works with local and international NGOs, governments, and other partners to achieve its goals.

The WHO's Secretariat includes experts, staff, and field workers based in Geneva, 6 Regional Offices, and other stations in over 150 countries worldwide. The Regional Directors work closely with the Director-General, who is elected by the Member States and leads the organization in achieving its global health goals, to implement strategies and programs across all levels of the organization.

The WHO provides technical support to its Member States in developing normative guidance, tools, and authoritative advice on health issues related to air pollution and its sources. It monitors and reports on global trends and changes in health outcomes associated with actions taken to address air pollution at the national, regional, and global levels. The organization has also developed and implemented a strategy to raise awareness of the risks of air pollution and the solutions that can be implemented to mitigate these risks.

WHO data show that almost the entire global population (99%) breathes air that exceeds WHO guideline limits and contains high levels of pollutants, with low- and middle-income countries suffering the highest exposures. The organization promotes interventions and initiatives for healthy sectoral policies, addressing key risks to health from indoor and outdoor air pollution and contributing to achieving health co-benefits from climate change mitigation policies.

Local, national and regional governments

Local, national, and regional governments play a crucial role in addressing air pollution, which poses significant risks to public health and the environment. Air pollution is caused by various sources, including industrial processes, the burning of fossil fuels, transportation, waste management, and agriculture. It is closely linked to climate change, as many contributors to air pollution are also sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

At the local level, California serves as an example of how governments tackle air pollution. California has 35 local air districts responsible for regional air quality planning. Each district has its own permitting program to reduce emissions from stationary and area-wide sources, with varying levels of stringency based on the region's attainment status for State and National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Local engagement is essential for supporting sustainable development and reducing exposure to air pollution. Citizens can get involved through city councils, county boards of supervisors, and advisory bodies, influencing land-use decisions and transportation planning to improve air quality.

National governments also play a pivotal role in combating air pollution through legislation and policy-making. For instance, the Clean Air Act in Britain (1956) and the US (1963) significantly improved air quality. National policies can support cleaner transport, energy-efficient homes, improved power generation, sustainable industrial practices, and better waste management, all contributing to reducing ambient air pollution. Additionally, national governments can ratify international agreements, such as the Montreal Protocol, which successfully reduced the release of ozone-depleting chemicals.

Regional governments, such as the California Air Resources Board (CARB), also contribute significantly to air pollution control. CARB sets California's emissions limits, develops policies to combat climate change, and takes action to reduce public exposure to toxic air contaminants. It enforces legislation to protect public health and the environment and actively engages the public in the rule-making process. Regional governments work in conjunction with federal and local authorities to establish targets and strategies to reduce air pollution effectively.

Overall, local, national, and regional governments have a shared responsibility to address air pollution through regulation, planning, and public engagement. Their efforts are vital to reducing the health and environmental risks associated with air pollution and promoting sustainable practices across sectors.

California Air Resources Board (CARB)

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is a department within the California Environmental Protection Agency, an organization that reports directly to the Governor's Office in the Executive Branch of California State Government. CARB was established in 1967 when then-governor Ronald Reagan signed the Mulford-Carrell Act, combining the Bureau of Air Sanitation and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board.

CARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of air pollutants. The organization recognizes and considers the effects of air quality on the economy of the state. CARB's stated goals include attaining and maintaining healthy air quality, protecting the public from exposure to toxic air contaminants, and providing innovative approaches for complying with air pollution rules and regulations.

To address California's unique air quality challenges, CARB sets its own emissions limits, which may be stricter than federal limits, and develops policies to combat climate change. CARB also creates actions to reduce the public's exposure to toxic air contaminants from various sources, including stationary sources (like oil refineries and power plants), mobile sources (like cars, trucks, and locomotives), and area-wide sources (like dust and agricultural burning).

CARB has been instrumental in driving innovation in the global automotive industry through programs such as its ZEV mandate and the Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Program. CARB also funds the PHEV Research Center and has adopted the Innovative Clean Transit regulation, which aims to transition public transportation agencies in California to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040. Additionally, CARB enforces the Commercial Harbor Craft regulation, targeting diesel-powered vessels operating in California's harbors and ports to reduce their emissions.

California's local air districts, of which there are 35, are responsible for regional air quality planning and maintaining their own permitting programs to reduce emissions from stationary and area-wide sources. These districts work with transportation agencies to support transportation planning and project identification that improves air quality and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a governmental agency dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. The EPA was created in 1970 by the Richard Nixon administration, which made the environment a policy priority from 1969 to 1971. The EPA's creation was also influenced by the 1962 publication of Silent Spring, a book by Rachel Carson that alerted the public to the detrimental effects of pesticides on humans and animals.

The EPA has a wide range of responsibilities and initiatives aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment. One of its key roles is setting and enforcing emissions standards for stationary sources (such as oil refineries and power plants), mobile sources (such as cars and trucks), and area-wide sources (such as dust and agricultural burning). The EPA has ten regional offices that develop, propose, and implement approved regional programs to reduce air pollution.

The EPA also runs the Smart Growth Program, which began in 1998 and aims to help communities improve their land development practices. The program encourages development strategies that protect human health and the environment, create economic opportunities, and provide affordable and attractive neighbourhoods for people of all income levels. The EPA's Brownfields Program, authorized by law in 2002, provides grants and tools to local governments for the assessment, cleanup, and revitalization of brownfields, resulting in the reclamation of land and the creation of jobs.

In addition, the EPA has a Safer Choice label, previously known as the "Design for the Environment" label, which helps consumers identify products with safer chemical ingredients. The label ensures that every intentionally added ingredient in a product has been evaluated by EPA scientists, allowing only the safest possible functional ingredients. The EPA also plays a role in educating the public about environmental issues, offering webinars on topics such as drinking water safety.

The EPA's enforcement activities have been impacted by budget cuts, leading to a decrease in enforcement actions. Despite these challenges, the agency continues to work towards its mission of protecting human health and the environment, collaborating with local, state, and national experts to address complex environmental issues.

Environmental Defence Fund (EDF)

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is a United States-based non-profit environmental advocacy group. EDF was founded in 1967 by a group of scientists with the goal of banning DDT, which they successfully achieved in 1972. The group's headquarters are in New York City, with offices across the US and an expanding international presence, including offices in London, Brussels, Mumbai, and Beijing.

EDF is known for its work on issues including global warming, ecosystem restoration, oceans, and human health. The organisation advocates using science, economics, and law to find solutions to environmental problems and often promotes market-based approaches. EDF has been involved in several notable initiatives, including:

• Helping to pass the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974, which established comprehensive health standards for water nationwide.
• Convincing federal regulators to phase out lead from gasoline in the 1980s, resulting in a significant decline in childhood lead poisoning.
• Initiating the campaign to remove the O'Shaughnessy Dam in Yosemite National Park in 2002.
• Working with FedEx between 2000 and 2004 to develop and deploy hybrid electric trucks, which reduced smog-forming pollution and fuel consumption.
• Co-authoring the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.
• Supporting the Rigs-to-Reefs program in the Gulf of Mexico, which converts former offshore oil production platforms into artificial reefs to preserve existing reef habitats.

EDF has also funded studies with the petroleum industry on the environmental effects of natural gas production, which has been controversial among some environmentalists. EDF sees natural gas as a transitional fuel to replace coal, with the understanding that it will eventually be replaced by renewable energy. The organisation has also worked with the oil industry to endorse tighter regulations on emissions of volatile organic compounds.

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