Bridging COP27 Connections and Local Clean Air Priorities
In November, the Sac Metro Air District participated in the United Nations climate change conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The successful engagement provided the District a unique opportunity to highlight local actions for decarbonization and clean air in a global context for sustainability and climate resilience. This experience will inform regional conversations for further air and carbon pollution reductions and the right transition to a clean energy future.
At a glance, COP27 was the global conference meant to keep worldwide ambition on track for meeting the “1.5oC” goal, referring to the accepted maximum rise in the global mean temperature relative to pre-industrial levels before catastrophic environmental changes will occur. To achieve this goal, most attention was given to “loss and damage,” a reference to the needed financial support developing countries need to deal with climate change from the rich economies responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions. President Biden used his COP27 appearance to highlight the significance of the Inflation Reduction Act for climate action in the U.S. while affirming “the U.S. will meet its 2030 Paris agreement target.”
As a local air agency, the Sac Metro Air District is responsible for the implementation of emission reductions of air and climate pollution, promoting adaptation and resilience, and supporting regional cooperation consistent with COP27 goals and commitments. COP priorities and Sacramento region priorities are directly connected with goals such as affordable housing, environmental justice, energy and grid resilience, and increased electric vehicle adoption. As we move forward, the District will continue to support regional decarbonization efforts in the public and private sectors made possible by local partnerships.
Alberto Ayala
Air Pollution Control Officer
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District Updates & Highlights |
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100 Free Portable Air Quality Sensors Available For Residents, Businesses and Schools in High-Need, Underserved Sacramento Neighborhoods |
City of Sacramento residents, schools, and businesses will soon receive free portable Purple Air sensors as part of a pilot project aimed at enhancing air quality data in high-need, underserved neighborhoods. The application for the project, which is a partnership between the City of Sacramento and the Sac Metro Air District, was launched on December 12, 2022. There are 100 sensors available through the project.
Sensors are prioritized for high-need areas in the City of Sacramento including North Sacramento, South Sacramento and outside of Downtown/Central City. Recipients will be selected based on geography and other criteria to ensure equitable distribution among neighborhoods.
Those interested in applying can visit the City of Sacramento’s website at cityofsacramento.org/air-quality. The application will remain open until all sensors have been allocated. Residents and businesses that applied by January 6, 2023, will be notified in mid to late January if they have been selected. Subsequent awards will be made monthly until there are no remaining sensors.
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Annual Reporting Due January 31
Permitted stationary sources must report emission information to the Sac Metro Air District to comply with various local, state, and federal requirements. To comply with these mandates, the District requires all permitted stationary sources to submit an Annual Report by January 31 of every calendar year.
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Serve Sacramento County by Becoming a Hearing Board Member
If you are a Sacramento County resident interested in air quality topics and gaining invaluable leadership experience, the Sac Metro Air District has the position for you! The District is seeking individuals to serve on the District’s Hearing Board, the body authorized to hear and decide petitions seeking exceptions to certain District rules, regulations, and permit requirements.
Who Can Serve?
The Hearing Board is comprised of one medical professional, one professional engineer, one attorney, and two members of the public. Candidates are evaluated based on their qualifications to serve as representatives for their profession, field of endeavor, or the community. Members must be residents of Sacramento County.
What is the Time Commitment?
Hearing Board members serve a three-year term and must commit to meeting monthly, on an as-needed basis. While the total number may vary from year to year, in 2022, there were three Hearing Board meetings.
Do Volunteers Get Paid?
Hearing Board members receive a stipend of $75 per meeting day. There is no salary.
How Do I Apply?
For more information about the District’s Hearing Board and to view the application for the “Public Member No. 2" position (expected to be posted at the end of January 2023), visit the District’s website here. For questions, please email vmuller@airquality.org.
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Global Connections: Sac Metro Air District Partners With Hungarian Agencies for Year-Long Fellows Program
The Sac Metro Air District recently completed a year-long program to provide technical and policy support to the Hungarian Meteorological Service and the Ministry of Technology and Industry – Environment Program in Budapest, Hungary. Recognizing that air pollution affects people around the world regardless of geographic or political boundaries, the District chose to participate in the program to foster international collaboration and exchange knowledge regarding air monitoring and air pollution control policies.
Under the auspices of the U.S. State Department Global Air Quality Fellowship Program (AQ Fellows), the program facilitated important connections between the District and Hungarian air quality officials with the mutual goals of protecting public health and improving air quality. Topics shared included U.S. and European air pollution regulatory policies, technological advances in portable air quality sensors, and a unique intercomparison study between air pollution sample collection and laboratory methods in Sacramento and in Budapest.
The primary pollutants of interest for the intercomparison study included metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Numerous scientific studies suggest that PAHs in ambient air are associated with adverse health impacts.
Supported by the U.S. Embassy and mission staff in Budapest, the AQ Fellow Program also facilitated engagement with the Western Balkans Green Center’s Clean Air Regions Initiative (CARI) and allowed for sharing of the California experience. CARI includes nine Western Balkan municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia and is a coordinated effort for the development of local air quality plans.
While the AQ Fellows Program concluded in December, the Sac Metro Air District and its new international partners will continue to advance air quality understanding and improvements for communities across international borders.
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Community Resource Project Unveils New Electric Utility Vehicle Funded by the District
As one of the first nonprofits committed to converting to a 100% electric fleet in the Sacramento region, the Community Resources Project (CRP) has unveiled a new Electric Utility Van for serving the community, which was funded through the District’s incentive program. Air Pollution Control Officer Alberto Ayala, Division Manager Jaime Lemus, and Air Quality Planner Gina O’Neal represented the District at the unveiling event.
“The transformation to electric vehicles hasn’t been easy,” said Luis Sanchez, CEO of Community Resource Project. “There have been several challenges to overcome to include type of vehicles, cost, charging stations, distance per charge, availability of vehicles to name a few. There has been a very large learning curve to changing to clean energy, but it is something that our Board of Directors and our staff felt was important to us as an agency. Plus, we have had a lot of support from the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District. Without their assistance, we could not have proceeded any further with our efforts.”
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Clean Air Projects Coming Soon
Each year, the District awards clean air grants to a wide variety of businesses for projects in our region that reduce fossil fuel combustion pollution, advance our efforts to meet federal air quality standards and state decarbonization goals and result in important economic development co-benefits. The below grant recipients are ready to take their projects to the next step! Congratulations to all our partners for helping to ensure clean air and a low-carbon future for all!
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Mutual Housing
Sacramento, CA
$177,737
EV Car Sharing &
Charging Infrastructure
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Habitat For Humanity
Sacramento, CA
$162,000
Heavy-Duty
Electric Truck
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The District is currently accepting applications for its Incentive Program to fund zero emission trucks and buses, clean farm equipment, EV charging stations, and other innovative clean air projects. Approximately $22 million in funding is available. For more information or to apply, please visit the District’s website here. |
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