Education: Health & Wellness!
Environmental justice addresses the disparities in access to resources and living conditions that significantly impact public health outcomes, particularly in underserved or marginalized communities. A healthy environment is essential to achieving overall wellness, and its key components include:
- Air Quality: Clean air is fundamental to respiratory and cardiovascular health. Communities facing poor air quality, often due to industrial pollution or proximity to highways, are at a higher risk of chronic diseases like asthma and lung cancer. Environmental justice seeks to reduce these disparities by advocating for stricter pollution controls and fair placement of industrial facilities.
- Access to Healthy Foods: Food deserts—areas lacking affordable, nutritious food options—disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities. Ensuring access to fresh, healthy foods supports better nutrition and reduces the prevalence of diet-related illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension.
- Access to Public Facilities: Public facilities like community centers, libraries, and health clinics are vital resources for promoting wellness. Equitable access to these facilities can improve education, mental health, and social support, fostering stronger and healthier communities.
- Safe Outdoor Public Spaces: Parks, playgrounds, and walkable streets encourage physical activity, which is essential for maintaining physical health and mental well-being. Ensuring that these spaces are safe, clean, and accessible supports active lifestyles and helps reduce stress, depression, and obesity rates.
The intersection of public health and environmental justice highlights the importance of addressing systemic inequalities in environmental conditions to improve health outcomes. By advocating for fair distribution of environmental benefits and resources, communities can build a foundation for sustainable health and wellness.
Sacramento County Air Quality Management District
Clean Cars 4 All
an incentive program offered to income-qualified Sacramento residents. The program provides grants to help residents retire their old vehicles and replace them with zero or near-zero emission vehicles or electric bikes. Depending on income and mobility options, participants can receive up to $12,000 for the purchase of an eligible new or used vehicle or the lease of an eligible new vehicle. Participants can also opt-in for electric bikes instead of vehicles.
California Emissions Estimator
California Emissions Estimator Model is a model that quantifies ozone precursors, criteria pollutants, and greenhouse gas emissions from the construction and operation of new land use development and linear projects in California. The model integrates data from CalEnviroScreen, Cal-Adapt, and the Healthy Places Index to identify potential climate risks and environmental burdens within the project vicinity. The model also contains measures to reduce emissions, climate risks, and environmental burdens.
Mobile Sources Air Toxics Protocol
Mobile Sources Air Toxics Protocol
The Mobile Sources Air Toxics Protocol (MSAT Protocol) provides guidance to local land use jurisdictions on assessing and disclosing potential cancer risk and PM2.5 concentrations from major roadways and railways. The Sac Metro Air District's Board of Directors approved the MSAT Protocol on January 25, 2018. The MSAT Protocol replaces the Recommended Protocol for the Evaluation of Sensitive Receptors Adjacent to Major Roadways.