Air and Climate Justice

The Air and Climate Justice team manages programs and initiatives that seek to (1) reduce air pollutants in EJ communities while also reducing greenhouse gases, (2) mitigate the impacts of poor air quality on public health, (3) empower communities through active involvement in all activities and decision-making, especially elders and youth, and (4) utilize next-generation air monitoring technology to ground-truth community experience, solve EJ-oriented research questions, and provide evidence for policy change.

Air and Climate Justice Projects

Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) Project:

Kern County has over 92,000 active and idle oil wells, with 13% located near homes or schools. Leaking oil infrastructure releases methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which harm the environment and human health. The FLIR Project uses a mobile methane monitor and an infrared camera to detect leaks in disadvantaged communities, helping to identify and repair leaks.

Youth & Oil and Gas:

CCEJN runs an Environmental Justice (EJ) internship program that provides training and engagement opportunities for Central Valley youth. Four interns, aged 14-18, participate in two 5-month internships. They join statewide coordinating meetings for Youth Versus Big Oil (YVBO) and collaborate with statewide coalitions like Last Chance Alliance (LCA) and Voices in Solidarity Against Oil in Neighborhoods (VISION), helping to shape campaigns that reflect Central Valley issues. Additionally, CCEJN works with schools, teachers, and after-school programs to raise awareness of environmental justice and bring citizen science projects into the classroom.

Organizational and Community Engagement in Statewide and National Oil and Gas-Related Processes:

CCEJN involves Central Valley residents in advocacy to address the impacts of fossil fuel extraction in California. Activities include updating affected communities on oil and gas rulemakings and enforcement, and supporting areas like Arvin/Lamont and Shafter in using the Community Air Protection Program (CAPP) to reduce emissions. CCEJN also engages in statewide coalitions like VISION and LCA, participates in government processes like the Statewide Methane Task Force, and amplifies environmental justice issues through social media and public hearings. Additionally, CCEJN contributes to the national “People Versus Fossil Fuels” movement to elevate California’s climate justice concerns at the national level.

Air Monitoring:

CCEJN manages a variety of air monitoring and sampling campaigns. The VOZ network is a network of low-cost ozone monitors spread out over rural areas of the San Joaquin Valley and is the first of its kind. CCEJN also maintains particulate matter monitors that feed into the IVAN and SJVair networks. CCEJN also conducts bucket sampling of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) near stationary sources of pollution, such as leaking oil wells, refineries, dairies, and landfills.

Community-Specific Work:

CCEJN staff work in various communities to address pressing environmental justice concerns. For instance, staff have a history of engaging with the City of Fresno to address the impacts of heavy-industrial land use zoning, diesel trucks, and warehousing near communities. CCEJN also works in the community of Avenal to address concerns related to the large landfill cited fenceline to the community.

Air Quality Organizing, Advocacy, and Outreach:

CCEJN actively engages – and organizes and empowers community leaders to actively engage – in public processes and forums that affect air quality-related planning and decision-making. For instance, CCEJN participates in the public process to develop plans for the San Joaquin Valley air basin to meet national air quality standards and engages in permitting decisions for stationary sources of pollution. CCEJN also conducts air quality education and outreach to teach residents how to protect themselves during periods of poor air quality.

Climate Justice:

CCEJN promotes community-supported climate solutions that protect people and promote environmental justice, such as urban greening, and fights against harmful solutions such as carbon capture and storage.