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 cut pollution and those that reduce residents’ exposures to air pollution. Find curated resources for each of these approaches below.
As you consider these solutions, keep in mind three guiding priorities:
- Protect people now: Reduce exposure in the near term, especially during high-pollution events.
- Prevent future harm: Ensure new or expanding activities do not increase pollution in already impacted communities.
- 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.
