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Hello,

As Clean Air Month concludes, we are thrilled to introduce the “Clean Air & Environmental Justice'' ([link removed]) story map. This initiative from the Clean Air For Long Haul ([link removed].) (CAFLH) cohort sheds light on the clean air challenges faced by frontline environmental justice communities and our advocacy efforts to address legacy pollution in Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-income neighborhoods impacted by redlining.

Every May, Clean Air Month serves as a reminder of the vital connection between clean air, public health, and environmental protection. Understanding air quality is a crucial step in grasping the full scope of its impact on low-income and/or communities of color.

In this story map, you’ll discover ongoing initiatives from members of the CAFLH cohort—a diverse and powerful coalition of frontline activists and organizers leading federal rulemaking campaigns to reduce air pollution from major sources like power plants, buildings and vehicles. Through key data, visualizations, and maps, we aim to provide awareness of current and forthcoming policies, empowering us to #DaretoBreathe and envision a healthier future for environmental justice communities.

The 2024 State of the Air Report ([link removed]) reveals stark disparities: while people of color comprise 41.6% of the U.S. population, they account for 52% of those living in counties with at least one failing air quality grade. In the worst-affected counties, where all three air pollution measures receive failing grades, 63% of the nearly 44 million residents are people of color, compared to 37% who are white.

Achieving true justice means taking decisive action to reduce air pollution and improve the health and well-being of these communities. Environmental justice communities suffer disproportionately from poor air quality due to a history of environmental racism, including redlining and discriminatory zoning policies for polluting infrastructure. Clean air is not a luxury; it is a fundamental right for every community.

Explore Story Map! ()
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