The Central Valley Air Quality (CVAQ) Coalition is a partnership of more than 70 community, medical, public health, environmental and environmental justice organizations representing thousands of residents in the San Joaquin Valley that are unified in their commitment to improve the health of Californians by (a) seeking full and vigorous enforcement of the federal Clean Air Act in the San Joaquin Valley, (b) strengthening State law and District regulations relating to air quality, and (c) educating the public about the serious health impacts of air pollution.
This site provides educational resources about air pollution and its sources, reports on health impacts, current news, legal actions, and information on what you can do to help clear the air.
BACKGROUND
The Clean Air Act, passed by Congress in 1970, promised healthy air to all major urban areas in the United States by 1975. Today, we are still faced with air so dirty that we have to keep our children from playing outside on smoggy summer afternoons. In many areas of California, our air has become a foul brew of pollution emitted from hundreds of different sources, including automobiles, power plants, factories, farms and leaf blowers, to name a few. These pollutants include ozone and particulate matter pollution, which have serious impacts on the health of everyone living (and dying) in our state. Our bodies cannot tolerate these dangerous pollutants entering our airways and bloodstreams. When the pollution load is too great, we get sick, our breath shortens, we begin to cough and wheeze, and our hearts and lungs are damaged. Sadly, the impact of pollution is most severe on our most vulnerable populations: children, the elderly, and those with existing respiratory diseases.
CVAQ COALITION MEMBERS
American Lung Association of California
American Lung Association of Central California
Association of Irritated Residents
Breathe California of Sacramento – Emigrant Trails
California Clean Cars Campaign
California Communities Against Toxics
California League of Conservation Voters
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
California Rural Legal Foundation
Californians for Pesticide Reform
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ)
The Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies
Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment
Central California Environmental Justice Network (CCEJN)
Central California Latina Network (CCLN)
Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Ind’gena Oaxaque–o
Coalition for Clean Air
Comite Asma
Cultural Marketing Center
Earthjustice
El Comite para el Bienestar de Earlimart
El Pueblo
El Quinto Sol
Environment California
Environment Now
Environmental Defense
Family HealthCare Network
Fresno Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides
Fresno County Bicycle Coalition
Fresno-Madera Medical Society
Fresno Metro Ministry
Metro Air Champs
Fresno Native American Health Center
Grayson Neighborhood Council
Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice
Green Energy Network
Latino Issues Forum
Latinos Unidos Concientizados al Ambiente/Latinos United for Clean Air
League of Women Voters - Fresno
League of Women Voters - Bakersfield
Madera Coalition for Community Justice (MCCJ)
Medical Advocates for Healthy Air
Merced/Mariposa County Asthma Coalition
National Hispanic Environmental Council
National Parks Conservation Association
Natural Resources Defense Council
The Next Generation
Our Children's Earth
Pan Valley Institute (Fresno)
Planning and Conservation League
RAMP (Regional Asthma Management and Prevention Initiative)
Relational Culture Institute
San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust
SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West
Sierra Club - California
Sierra Club - Kern-Kaweah Chapter (Bakersfield)
Sierra Club - Mother Lode Chapter (Modesto-Stockton)
Sierra Club - Tehipite Chapter (Fresno)
Southeast Asian Institute for Advancement
Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation
Stockton Diocese
Tulare County Asthma Coalition
Union of Concerned Scientists
CVAQ Staff
Coordinator
Liza Bolanos
liza@calcleanair.org
Phone (559) 486-3279 ext 2
Fax (559) 486-3669
Community Organizer
Catherine Garoupa
catherine@calcleanair.org
(559) 232-1698
Media inquiries? Send email to media(at)calcleanair.org or liza@calcleanair.org.
