Camden County Reacts to State of the Air Report with New Air Quality Team | Camden County, NJ

Camden County Continues to Address Air Quality Issues

Introduction

Last week, the American Lung Association released their 2024 State of the Air report measuring air quality and the impact that air pollution has on public health. Although there have been improvements, Camden County continues to receive subpar grades for our high number of days above the national standard for ground-level ozone, a pollutant that can cause respiratory problems and other ailments for young children, the elderly, and those with asthma.

Camden County Air Quality Committee

To help address the issue, the Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce our support for the newly established Camden County Air Quality Committee (CCAQ).

CCAQ is an advisory panel of subject experts and community advocates assembled to provide strategic guidance to the Camden County Board of Commissioners, municipal, and regional partners with a goal of improving health outcomes by reducing ambient levels of particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and other contaminants.

Commissioner Jeffrey L. Nash stated, “There are a lot of factors that contribute to poor air quality. Some of them are going to be harder to address and will require working closely with our regional partners. That said, there are actions that we can take here in Camden County through the new CCAQ, including education, electrification, monitoring, and thinking outside the box when it comes to addressing issues like food waste.”

Ben Saracco of Camden for Clean Air expressed excitement about serving as a community member on the Camden County Air Quality Committee. He stated, “This committee’s diverse focus areas, from eliminating food waste to improving outdoor air quality, underscore its commitment to improving environmental health and sustainability in Camden County and Camden City. I look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to make a positive impact on air quality and environmental well-being in our communities.”

Michael Seilback, Assistant Vice President, Nationwide Advocacy, American Lung Association, emphasized the importance of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure in improving air quality. He said, “As we see in our most recent ‘State of the Air’ report, climate change is making air pollution more likely to form and more difficult to clean up. In New Jersey, there are actions we can and must take to improve air quality, including building electrification and reducing air pollution from the transportation and power sector. We appreciate our partners at the Camden County Air Quality Committee and their focus on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.”

CCAQ Pillars

This committee’s mandate is focused on working with our municipalities, schools, hospitals, businesses, state agencies, and regional partners across the following pillars:

• Fleet Electrification & Charging Infrastructure
• Solid Waste Operations
• Regional Engagement
• Green Space
• Indoor Air Quality
• Finance & Funding Mechanisms

Commitment to Improving Air Quality

Assemblyman Bill Moen (D-Camden, Gloucester) expressed his commitment to working together to find solutions that will help improve air quality and better the lives and health of residents in Camden County and the tri-state area for generations to come. He stated, “This collective effort will require innovative solutions and this team is ready to rise to the challenge.”

Peg Hanna, Director, Division of Climate Change Mitigation and Monitoring, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, highlighted the importance of a holistic and collaborative approach to emissions reduction. She said, “Through the work of the Camden County Air Quality Committee, along with a variety of in-state and out-of-state efforts, we’re making progress on a healthier NJ as shown by the latest American Lung Association report.”

Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey, emphasized the impact of air pollution on residents’ health. He stated, “Poor air quality across South Jersey and Camden County is a silent killer and triggers tens of thousands of asthma attacks for residents suffering from respiratory ailments. The Camden County Air Quality Committee provides a hyper-local and state partnership alliance, especially with a focus on electrifying our cars, trucks, and buses to finally clean up our air to benefit our lungs and the climate.”

Renée Pollard, Tri-County Sustainability Environmental Justice Co-Chair, expressed the hope of improving air quality and enhancing better health outcomes through collaboration with partnering agencies. She said, “Working and collaborating with partnering agencies, our hope is to improve Air Quality and enhance better health outcomes while continuing to improve our annual grades reported by the American Lung Association.”

Camden County Commissioner Jon Young acknowledged the significant challenge of improving air quality but emphasized the moral obligation to create a roadmap for resolving and remedying antiquated practices. He stated, “We have a moral obligation to create a roadmap that we can use to resolve and remedy antiquated practices of the past that will deliver direct benefits to our residents.”

Sean Greene, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Office of Freight and Clean Transportation, highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in improving air quality. He said, “DVRPC is pleased to join the Camden County Air Quality Committee (CCAQC) to help bring partners together to improve air quality in the communities in Camden County and beyond.”

Elizabeth Cerceo MD, Director of Climate Health at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, emphasized the impact of air pollution on public health. She stated, “One in five premature deaths every year are caused by fossil fuel pollution

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The article discusses the issue of air pollution and its impact on public health, specifically respiratory problems. This connects to SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The article also mentions the establishment of the Camden County Air Quality Committee to address the issue, which aligns with SDG 11, which focuses on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Additionally, the article mentions the need to reduce air pollution and mentions climate change, linking to SDG 13, which addresses climate action. Lastly, the mention of improving environmental health and sustainability relates to SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
• Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

The targets identified are directly related to the issues discussed in the article. Target 3.9 focuses on reducing deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution, which aligns with the concern over respiratory problems mentioned in the article. Target 11.6 addresses the need to improve air quality in cities, which is a key focus of the Camden County Air Quality Committee. Target 13.2 emphasizes the integration of climate change measures, including reducing air pollution, into policies and planning. Lastly, Target 15.1 highlights the importance of conserving and restoring terrestrial ecosystems, which is relevant to the goal of improving environmental health and sustainability.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of days above the national standard for ground-level ozone
• Ambient levels of particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and other contaminants
• Reduction in air pollution from transportation and power sectors
• Improvement in annual grades reported by the American Lung Association

The article mentions the number of days above the national standard for ground-level ozone as an indicator of air quality. This can be used to measure progress towards Target 3.9 of reducing illnesses caused by air pollution. The article also refers to ambient levels of particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and other contaminants as areas of focus for improvement, which can serve as indicators for progress towards Target 3.9 and Target 15.1. Additionally, the reduction in air pollution from the transportation and power sectors is mentioned as a measure to improve air quality, aligning with Target 13.2. Lastly, the improvement in annual grades reported by the American Lung Association can be used as an indicator of progress towards the targets related to air quality.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: camdencounty.com

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