Read the Fresh Air Newsletter in Browser

The Path to Deep Decarbonization in Pennsylvania

The climate crisis is accelerating and intensifying. An alarming new analysis released in mid-June by NASA and NOAA found that the planet is trapping roughly double the amount of heat in the atmosphere that it did just 15 years ago. We know that climate tipping points could trigger other climate tipping points in a domino effect, leading to irreversible impacts.

Pennsylvania's 2017 Greenhouse Gas Emissions

To oversimplify things, here’s a two-step path to dramatically curb emissions: (1) decarbonize the electricity sector; and (2) then electrify everything. There will be countless complementary policy measures needed to implement that plan (and not everything can be easily electrified) but it’s a solid framework to guide our efforts.

By Robert Routh Esq., Public Policy and Regulatory Attorney

Delaware County Aims to Create Largest County-Owned Park

For several years, Clean Air Council has been supporting Save Marple Greenspace and the Whetstone Run Coalition in their efforts to protect the Don Guanella woods from development, and preserve this 213 acre old growth forest. We are thrilled that Delaware County is taking steps to secure and protect these woods for generations to come, and we applaud the work of residents who tirelessly advocated for years to achieve this result.

(Emma Lee/WHYY)

Community-Drive Research On Air Podcast

Community Organizations advocating for the residents of their North Philly neighborhood

In the third installment of “On Air with Clean Air Council,” Staff Advocate Russell Zerbo talks with community organizing partner Kyle Cruz about their work improving public health and zoning enforcement in North Philadelphia. Their work with HACE (Hispanic Association of Contractors and Entrepreneurs) and APM (Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha) aims to help share knowledge and resources with other RCO's (Recognized Community Orginizations) to help them work with developers to ensure the needs of their community are met. Listen and learn.

Residents Have Had Enough: Environmental Racism and Injustice in Southern Delaware County

"Enough environmental injustice, enough environmental racism, enough prioritization of private profit over public health. We have a right to clean air, pure water, and a healthy environment. We have the right to breathe."

By Eve Miari, Advocacy Coordinator

Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refinery, a title V major source facility

When it comes to toxic air pollution--how safe is safe enough?
Title V (major source) permits and renewals to go through a risk screening process that determines if a facility gets an operating permit. The Council has been actively pushing for such an approach to toxic pollution for many years.

By John Lee, Community & Environmental Health Director

For Pedestrian Rights in Every Neighborhood

For the past two years, the Council has connected residents, stakeholders, elected officials, and city agencies to work together to address the largest hurdle to accessing Cobbs Creek Park and Trail, which is the dangerous Cobbs Creek Parkway.

By Will Fraser, Transportation Project Manager

Walk. Ride. Pedal. Discover. Go Philly Go advertisement.

Ditch Single-Use for Plastic Free July

Nearly all plastics produced derive from oil, fracked gas, and coal — dirty, non-renewable resources. Plastics and the climate crisis go hand-in-hand: plastic production depends on fossil fuels, and fossil fuels rely on plastic production.

By Jessica Bellwoar, Development Officer

Victory Against Adelphia Gateway Compressor Station

The Adelphia Gateway Pipeline is a gas pipeline cutting through the Lehigh Valley and the Philadelphia suburbs. Compressor stations are large, polluting facilities that push the gas along the pipeline to its destination.

By Alex Bomstein, Senior Litigation Attorney

Pennsylvania is Discharging Radioactive Fracking Waste Into Rivers As Landfill Leachate, Impacting The Chesapeake Bay & Ohio River Watersheds (Map credit: FrackTracker Alliance)

Close Fracking Waste Loopholes Contaminating Drinking Water

No resident should be forced to deal with radioactive material in their drinking water. Shockingly, most Pennsylvanians that live in Southwestern Pennsylvania are being exposed to radiation.

By Lois Bower-Bjornson, Outreach Coordinator

The Council's Communications Director:

Katie Edwards

"The Council has begun to provide “Social Media for Advocacy” training for the impacted communities that the Council works with. These trainings are one of the best parts of my job. I get to see people newly armed with communications tools to use to protect their health and environment."

Interview with Katie Edwards, Communications Director