Join us April 16 for our first Community Climate Forum! This re-imagined version of our Climate Circle will bring together community members every other month for a one-hour online conversation focused on key climate and clean-air campaigns happening right here in Contra Costa and the Bay Area. This month, the topic is Health, Air Pollution, and Our Homes.
We’ll provide a short overview of the issue, then open the topic for discussion, and simple actions participants can take to help move solutions forward.
What’s Up about Air Pollution, Our Homes, and Our Health?
Most people think of cars or industry when they think about air pollution. But gas appliances inside our homes, especially furnaces and water heaters, are actually one of the largest sources of nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution in the Bay Area.
NOx pollution contributes to smog and fine particulate pollution that worsen asthma, increase heart and lung disease, and shorten lives. In fact, pollution from fossil-fuel furnaces and water heaters in the region is linked to thousands of asthma attacks each year and dozens of premature deaths, with significant health costs across our communities.
At our first Community Climate Forum, we’ll explore:
- How pollution from buildings affects public health in the Bay Area
- Why reducing it matters for our communities, and
- What cleaner technologies like electric heat pumps can offer for healthier homes
We’ll also discuss the Bay Area Air District’s upcoming standards that will begin phasing in cleaner replacements for gas appliances as they reach the end of their life, starting with water heaters in 2027 and furnaces in 2029. These rules are currently under review. Community voices will play an important role in ensuring they remain strong while working well for all households.
Join us to learn more about this issue and how you can help support clean air protections in the Bay Area for healthier homes for all our families.
Register for the Community Climate Forum to be sent the Zoom link
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