Identify solutions

Your city’s policy pathway to cleaner air will depend on its unique mix of pollution sources and community impacts. There are two main types of solutions that cities are often best positioned to implement: those that protect residents from exposures to air pollution and those that reduce air pollution by targeting pollution sources. Find curated resources for each of these approaches below.

As you consider these solutions, ensure that you are taking steps to prioritize those most at risk: target interventions in highest-risk areas—such as near schools, homes or freight corridors, and for susceptible populations such as children, pregnant women and the elderly—to bring relief where it’s most needed.

Cities often start with one or two priority actions and build from there, pairing immediate protections with longer-term strategies to improve air quality over time.

Protect residents

Find solutions to help protect your city’s residents from the health risks of poor air quality, especially during high-pollution events like wildfires and high ozone episodes.

Reduce air pollution

Discover resources showcasing approaches that other cities have used to reduce air pollution from local sources, including ordinances, permitting, building codes, land use planning and transportation policies.

To learn more about some of the most impactful local air quality policies that cities can implement to protect residents from air pollution, reduce pollution from local sources, and improve health, visit CDHI’s Addressing Air Pollution in Your Cities: A Starter Guide for Mayors.

Featured

Emissions and exposure reduction resources

GuidanceReport

Cleaner Air and Safe Children Factsheet

Factsheet providing information on electric school buses

Policy

Boston Community Clean Air Grant

Website for Boston Air Pollution Control Commission's Community Clean Air Grant Program which funds community based projects to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. The site provides useful examples of application procedures and projects that have received funding.

GuidanceReport

Financing Air Quality Plans

This is a report that provides information on funding and financing approaches that are potentially applicable at state and city levels. It highlights opportunities to leverage public and private financial resources. The report was developed for EU cities, but many of the examples and cases are applicable to U.S. cities.

Model

MOVES

EPA's MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) is a state-of-the-science emission modeling system that estimates emissions for mobile sources at the national, county, and project level for criteria air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and air toxics, available under EPA's Open Source Software policy.

DatabaseGuidancePolicy

Wildfire Smoke & Ash Health & Safety Tips

Website providing infographics and easily accessible guidance to reduce exposures to wildfire smoke and ash before, during, and after fires. The resource includes information on air filters, mask wearing, and other strategies to reduce exposures.

Case studyLegalPolicy

Guidance for Residential Wood Burning Disclosure

This is an example of a rule requiring disclosure of the health risks from exposures to PM2.5 that are associated with wood burning devices. The rule requires home buyers or renters to sign a disclosure form which includes information on health risks from burning wood inside a home, and potential alternative ways to heat homes.