The City’s prioritizes quality of life and in turn addresses air quality issues through their sustainability and climate action efforts. For example, the City seeks to promote cleaner modes of transportation, which will reduce the level of pollutants found within city boundaries.
Blue Zones Assessment, Readiness, and Feasibility Report
Blue Zones in Riverside Placemat
Air Quality
Important Air Quality Terms
Air Quality Index: daily report on air quality. The report lists pollutants and activity recommendations for those sensitive to pollutants.
Air Action Day: called when air quality index is unhealthy
Blue Zones
The City of Riverside in partnership with Governor’s Office/California Volunteers has been awarded a $1 million “Connecting Neighbors to Neighbors” grant to develop a resident-led, two-year effort in the Arlanza neighborhood to address local health and sustainability concerns and potentially position the area for future competitive sustainability funding.
Blue Zones are communities identified as having populations living measurably longer, happier lives with lower rates of chronic diseases and a higher-than-average quality of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy for Americans averaged 77.5 years in 2022. But this year, over 70,000 Americans have reached their 100th birthday. The Arlanza project will feature local programs and projects inspired by the examples set by residents with of high life longevity.
CARB
The California Air Resource Board (CARB) is charged with protecting the public from the harmful effects of air pollution and developing programs and actions to fight climate change. CARB is the lead agency for climate change programs and oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health-based air quality standards. They now have a Southern California Headquarters located in the City of Riverside designed to carry CARB’s acclaimed research and vehicle emissions testing into the future.
- Active children and adults
- Elderly people
- People with respiratory diseases, like asthma
Mayor’s Clean Air Day Proclamation at City Council: Mayor Lock Dawson to present a Proclamation to Mujeres Activas en La Sulud Leadership Team and Riverside Community Health Foundation Heal Zone recognizing October 5, 2022, as Clean Air Day. Insert link: City Council Agenda 10-04-2022:
South Coast AQMAD
South Coast AQMD’s Mission is to clean the air and protect the health of all residents in the South Coast Air District through practical and innovative strategies. As a means of measuring progress towards successful completion of this Mission, South Coast AQMD has established Goals and Priority Objectives and associated performance metrics on a fiscal year basis. Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson is now a serving member of AQMD’s board where she along with 12 other representatives will discuss ways to improve air quality and establish effective clean air programs. The Board receives reports from South Coast AQMD's Executive Officer and staff who recommend new rules or rule amendments to help reduce air pollution.
Important Links:
Take the Clean Air Day Pledge: Clear the Air, Riverside! | riversideca.gov
Air Quality | Ready Riverside (riversideca.gov)