The San Diego Air Pollution Control District’s (SDAPCD) Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ), established in 2022, is working to improve air quality in communities that are heavily burdened by the impacts of poor land use and transportation planning, industry operations, and other activities that have contributed to elevated levels of air pollution. OEJ also works in partnership with SDAPCD Divisions to provide guidance and resources that support meaningful community engagement and integrate environmental justice and equity considerations in decision-making, including rule development, review of permits, complaints, incentives, budgeting, and other documents and actions.
SDAPCD’s Governing Board-approved Environmental
Justice Framework (En
Español) directs and guides every SDAPCD Division to integrate and
center environmental justice in practice, analysis, operations, and
decision-making. It specifically provides direction to the Office of
Environmental Justice in order to guide environmental justice at
SDAPCD and within priority communities. OEJ is also guided by the SDAPCD's Equity
Statement and Public
Participation Plan.
Community
Air Protection Program (CAPP or AB 617)
The communities of Portside (Sherman Heights, Logan Heights, Barrio Logan, and West National City) and International Border (San Ysidro and Otay Mesa East) have been nominated and approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to participate in the CAPP. Through this community-led program, established by AB 617, SDAPCD is working with these communities to identify and support actions to reduce air pollution and establish a comprehensive air quality monitoring network.
Environmental Justice Partnership (EJP)
SDAPCD, in partnership with the San Diego County Office of Sustainability and Environmental Justice, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and 8 local community-based organizations (CBOs) have come together as part of the EJG2G program (Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program) to address elevated levels of PM2.5 exposure in selected environmental justice (EJ) communities in San Diego County. This program will utilize education and participatory planning to have community members identify air quality issues, engage additional agencies and jurisdictions, and co-develop solutions to address these issues. Additionally, this effort will expand our air pollution monitoring network through the installation of sensor-based monitors throughout EJ communities Countywide. The program will also include the establishment of a new regional, air-quality-focused Environmental Justice Working Group, convened in partnership with the County of San Diego Office of Sustainability and Environmental Justice.
Community Outreach & Education
SDAPCD wants to meet people where they are (for example, schools, community events, at community-based organizations, etc.) to share information about the San Diego Air Pollution Control District, air quality, and the impact of air pollution to human and environmental health. If you would like to have us attend a community event, provide a presentation at a school or with a community group, or partner on a project, please reach out to us at SDAPCD. We love to get feedback on SDAPCD activities and hear about your air quality concerns. Please share your thoughts and connect with us.
We are currently building community outreach and education resources. Please check back periodically to see what’s new. You can explore current incentive resources on SDAPCD’s Community Programs page.
San Diego - Tijuana Air Quality Task Force
Under the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA's) Border 2025 Program USEPA’s, the San Diego Air Pollution Control District (SDAPCD) serves as the Co-Chair for the San Diego-Tijuana Air Quality Task Force, while the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) serves as the Co-Chair for the Imperial-Mexicali Air Quality Task Force. Together, these Air Quality Task Forces coordinate with regional and other stakeholders to explore measures to improve border region air quality, with CARB as a participating member of the Task Forces. This collaboration leads to binational coordination of actions in San Diego and Imperial Counties and air basins. For more information click here.
Come meet us at one of these events!
More events coming soon
Shalem Aboody-Lopez (They/Them) | Program Coordinator
Community Air Protection Program
Email: Shalem.AboodyLopez@sdapcd.org
Phone: (858) 899-1487
David Flores (He/Him) | Air Quality Specialist
Environmental Justice Partnership
Email: David.Flores@sdapcd.org
Phone: (858) 414-9210
Lauren Perez (She/Her) | Public Outreach Specialist
Community Outreach & Education
Email: Lauren.Perez@sdapcd.org
Phone: (858) 424-1869
Karina Lopez (She/Her) | Student Worker
Email: Karina.Lopez@sdapcd.org