Working Together for Clean Air
Learn more about air pollution and how you can reduce your contribution
Monday, May 1
Air Quality and Your Health
The New Jersey Air Quality Flag program and “What’s in my Community” tool help increase the public’s air quality awareness, particularly for sensitive individuals such as older adults, children, or those suffering from lung diseases (including asthma). Air quality awareness is an important step in the protection of public health.
Subscribe to EnviroFlash for local air quality information sent to your email inbox or cell phone daily.
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Tuesday, May 2
Air Quality and Air Monitoring
New Jersey has air monitors across the state that report current air quality levels. The monitors provide monitoring data used to determine whether the state is meeting the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for certain common pollutants: ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and lead. In recent years, New Jersey has met all the standards except for ozone.
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Wednesday, May 3
Air Quality and Transportation
Transportation remains the largest source of air pollution in New Jersey. Take steps now to limit your air quality impact when making transportation choices; reduce idling, drive less, carpool, use transit, walk, bike, scooter, and/or switch to an electric vehicle.
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Thursday, May 4
Air Quality and Climate
Did you know that air pollution not only contributes to climate change but exacerbates it? Excess carbon dioxide and methane mainly from burning fossil fuels raise the earth’s temperature, a phenomenon called “The Greenhouse Gas Effect”. DEP’s first ever scientific report on climate change summarizes the effects of climate change on New Jersey’s environment.
Did you know that New Jersey is the 6th fastest warming state in the nation? All New Jersey residents are affected by climate change, especially those in the most vulnerable communities. Urban heat islands occur in urban areas where higher temperatures are observed than the surrounding suburban areas. It is critical that New Jersey considers urban heat islands and air quality in its resilience planning efforts.
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Friday, May 5
Environmental Justice and Air Quality
Air Quality is important in overburdened communities because they are the most impacted by the effects of air pollution. New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law, N.J.S.A. 13:1D-157, is one of the strongest and most empowering in the nation. The law was signed by Governor Murphy on September 18, 2020 and requires the DEP to assess the environmental and public health impacts of certain facilities in overburdened communities when reviewing certain permit applications.
DEP adopted the Environmental Justice Rule on April 17, 2023, to implement New Jersey’s Environmental Justice law, and released an updated Environmental Justice, Mapping, and Planning (EJMAP) tool. This tool can be used to view the overburdened communities throughout the state.
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