The San Diego region is well-known for its beautiful beaches and great weather, but what most don’t realize is that the region’s air pollution has been getting worse over the past few years, mainly as a result of increasing emissions from the transportation sector. San Diegans travel more vehicle miles annually per commuter than the state average and other major urban counties. More hours spent in traffic means more air pollutants and greenhouse gases being emitted from those vehicles. Additionally, according to the American Lung Association’s 2021 “State of the Air” report, the San Diego region is the 7th area in the nation with the most ozone pollution.

On October 6, San Diegans can come together as a community to take action to clean up our air and reduce pollution from cars: more San Diegans driving electric vehicles (EV) and more San Diegans taking public transit (especially zero and near-zero emissions transit!). California Clean Air Day is the perfect opportunity take public transit for the first time or to learn about EVs and maybe even go for a test drive!

2022 San Diego Regional Working Group

Nora Vargas, San Diego County Supervisor, 1st District

Alejandro Amador, Casa Familiar

Priya Bhat-Patel, City of Carlsbad

Silvia Croft, San Diego State

Peter Cronin, Alesmith

Allison DeGeorge, Hunter Industries

Maggie Hammock, Watkins Wellness

Morgan Justice-Black, SDG&E

Lauren MacDonald, County of San Diego, Office of Supervisor Fletcher

Melina Meza, San Diego Air Pollution Control District

Sandy Naranjo, ClimatePlan and the Port of San Diego

Stacey Salz, Calsbad Unified School District

Natalia Swalnick, Gladstein, Neandross + Associates

Randy Wilde, Office of Mayor Todd Gloria

Kathy Vandenheuvel, Tetratech

Everett Au, San Diego Foundation

David Flores, Office of Supervisor Nora Vargas

Ken Moore, Intesacom

Fabi Lao, Center for Sustainable Energy

Brian Elliott, Office of Councilmember Joe LaCava