A new rule, requiring 82% of new car and truck sales in Colorado to be zero-emissions vehicles by 2032, could begin to turn the tide on the state's persistent unhealthy air quality.

The transportation sector is the largest contributor to ground-level ozone, a potent combination of pollutants with particulates small enough to lodge in lungs.

Sarah Clark - a lead organizer at the Sierra Club - said ozone contributes to multiple health issues, including asthma, lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and even premature death.

"Air pollution and ozone threatens public health across Colorado," said Clark, "particularly in communities struggling with poverty and communities of color where folks are more likely to live near busy highways, refineries, and oil and gas production sites."

Aurora and Denver have the sixth highest average number of ozone alert days in the nation, according to the American Lung Society, with other Front Range cities not far behind.

Ozone pollution causes over one million premature adult deaths each year, with children and older residents most at risk.

The Colorado Automobile Dealers Association says it was optimistic about the Air Quality Control Commission's rule - which bumps targets of EV sales from 25% to 51% by 2028, and 68% by 2030.

EVs accounted for 17% of sales between July and August of this year.

Clark said governments and utility companies are also investing billions to create a network of charging stations.

"Automakers know the transition is happening, and that's why we're seeing big commitments to expanding the number of zero emission vehicles around the country," said Clark. "There's actually a surprising amount of excitement and momentum from the auto industry."

Some critics of the new rule wanted Colorado to follow California's more ambitious goal requiring 100% of vehicles on dealership lots to be zero-emissions by 2035.

The commission will revisit the rule in 2029. Clark believes Colorado's 82% requirement is a good first step.

"This rule is a crucial step in meeting the goal of two million EVs on the road to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Clark. "We look forward to 2029 when we can come back and adopt the full 100% rule."

A coalition of climate groups seeking cleaner air at the rail yards and ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will hold a "die-in" rally tomorrow at Los Angeles City Hall.

Nine climate, environmental and community organizations are calling on Mayor Karen Bass to support new rules coming soon from the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Cristhian Tapia-Delgado, Southern California climate campaigner for the nonprofit Pacific Environment, explained the urgency behind the protest.

"These rules have been delayed for almost a decade now for the port," Tapia-Delgado pointed out. "Our communities can't keep waiting. People shouldn't be dying just because their homes are in vicinity to these polluting sources."

The City of Long Beach's 2019 Community Health Assessment found communities near the port suffered increased rates of respiratory diseases and up to 8 years shorter life expectancy.

The South Coast district board is set to consider indirect-source rules to set facility-wide emission reduction goals for rail yards in August and for the ports in December. Cargo shipping companies relying on diesel fuel have balked at the expense of converting to new engines or cleaner fuels. The California Chamber of Commerce said the rules would result in caps on cargo volumes and hurt jobs.

Tapia-Delgado hopes Bass will use her influence to produce real change.

"We're asking her to stick to her campaign promises of working with all levels of government on her 2030 zero-emission port goals to reduce the negative health impacts," Tapia-Delgado stressed.

Advocates are also expected to speak out tomorrow during the public comment period of the Los Angeles City Council meeting.

Recent data ranks Columbus as the most polluted major city in the U.S., highlighting concerns about common pollutants, like smog and vehicle emissions.

New research links these pollutants to the risks for dementia.

Dr. Alan Cronemberger Andrade, in the postgraduate program in neurology and neuroscience at the Federal University of São Paulo, said the study of more than 2,500 adults showed a need for more local research on air pollution's effect on cognitive health.

"We see that there is really evidence linking air pollution to cognitive decline and dementia risk," Cronemberger Andrade observed.

He pointed out stroke and cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation are other key links between air pollution and dementia, and vascular issues also contribute to the connection.

In Ohio, the most recent figures, from 2019, indicate about 591,000 people over age 45 have some form of dementia.

Dr. Fabricio Ferreira de Oliviera, executive medical director of Elysian Clinica Medica and Neurologia at the Federal University of São Paulo, said one component of the study looked at people's proximity to high-pollution sources.

"If they live near a highway or near a very polluted area, they can have more cognitive impairment than those who live farther from those regions," Ferreira emphasized.

He suggested conducting ongoing studies to determine if reducing air pollution could lower the risk of dementia and cognitive decline, and better overall health outcomes.

Oil and gas companies have until 2025 to reduce the emissions they release into the air through the practices known as venting and flaring.

You may have seen a large plume of fire coming from smokestacks at oil-producing sites but you may not have considered how it is affecting your life. Oil and gas producers use venting and flaring to burn off excess gas. The process releases methane into the air, and environmental groups pointed out it is not only wasteful, but dangerous.

Becca Edwards, climate action fellow for the advocacy group Texas Impact and the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society, said the practice has two major negative effects.

"Releasing methane creates air pollution that harms people who are vulnerable," Edwards noted. "The second impact that methane emissions has is climate change. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. It traps heat, contributing to climate change."

Texas is the largest producer of gas in the nation, and a new study showed the emissions are being underreported. Researchers used remote sensing for the study and estimated methane released into the atmosphere contributes to about $7.4 billion in health damages annually.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a ruling last year aimed at sharply reducing emissions of methane and other air pollutants from oil and gas operations. For the first time, the regulations include existing well sites instead of only new ones. Edwards emphasized Texas Impact supports the new standards.

"We represent people of faith in Texas, and as people of faith, we feel that advocating for a healthy and safe environment is a moral obligation," Edwards stressed. "Those regulations are expected to reduce methane emissions significantly."

Oil and gas companies have two years to comply but it appears they are gearing up for a fight. The Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates oil and gas production, opposes the restrictions and has petitioned the Attorney General to challenge the EPA's new rule in court.


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