More than 900 attendees participated in South Coast AQMD’s 8th Annual Environmental Justice Conference, “Our Environment, Our Lives: Collaborating for Clean Air” held virtually on September 14th.

The event was emceed by Monique N. Hernandez, Ph.D. Senior Manager of Florida Cancer Data System and Affiliate Faculty, Geosciences and Environment, California State University, Los Angeles, who engaged participants with her energy and passion for environmental justice.

South Coast AQMD Governing Board Chair Ben J. Benoit delivered the opening remarks and moderated a discussion with featured speaker California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The conversation highlighted Bonta’s commitment to environmental justice and current efforts to reduce air pollution, including efforts to urge the U.S. EPA to set a stronger NOx emissions standard for heavy-duty trucks.

South Coast AQMD Governing Board Vice Chair Vanessa Delgado introduced the keynote speaker, U.S. EPA Region 9 Administrator Martha Guzman. Guzman spoke about community based environmental justice programs like AB 617, the importance of reducing air pollution, climate change, and the challenges to meeting federal attainment standards. She also spoke about upcoming funding opportunities through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act for environmental justice efforts.

The conference included sessions on the AB 617 Community Air Protection Program, Building the Road to a Zero Emissions Future, and Community Air Monitoring.

Conference materials and resources can be accessed on the 8th Annual Environmental Justice Conference webpage.