Title
Request Phoenix Become Signatory City of C40 Clean Air Cities Declaration
Description
This report provides the City Council a summary of the C40 Cities Clean Air Cities Declaration and requests City Council approval for the City of Phoenix to sign the declaration.
Report
Summary
Phoenix joined the C40 Network of Cities in 2020. This global network recognizes the substantial role cities play in addressing climate change and other serious issues like air quality. Phoenix participates in several C40 working groups, including the C40 Air Quality Network, which provides a platform for cities to share best practices, knowledge, and solutions that assist in making air quality better. The City is a leader in technical expertise as well as collaboration and communication around efforts to measure, understand and reduce air pollution; as such, Phoenix has been offered the opportunity to sign on to the C40 Clean Air Cities Declaration (Attachment A).
In April 2016, City Council adopted the 2050 Environmental Sustainability goals for the City, which included a vision to achieve a level of air quality that is healthy for all Phoenix residents and the environment. One of the goals is to outperform the federal air quality standards for regional pollutants.
The Clean Air Cities Declaration aligns with and affirms our commitments to clean air by focusing on:
- Improving data, analysis and communications in cities and between cities to identify sources, raise awareness, track progress, evaluate risk and establish policies that result in improved air quality;
- Identifying and delivering high impact actions that address significant pollution sources; and
- Improved collaboration between cities and other local and state government agencies as well as non-government organizations to improve air quality and communicate effective solutions.
By signing this declaration, Phoenix affirms its intent to continue to work toward the goal of clean air. The benefits of signing onto the declaration include access to resources and information, global recognition as an air quality leader, and fostering engagement of local stakeholders. The Phoenix area suffers from impaired air quality, which can lead to premature death and increased disease. It also impacts our economy and reduces opportunities for our residents to thrive.
Ozone and Particulate Matter (PM) pollution are each serious issues for the Phoenix metro area. The greater Phoenix area is currently designated as Moderate Non-attainment for ozone, and likely to be re-designated to Serious Non-attainment in 2024. Despite reduced traffic due to the pandemic in 2020, ozone still exceeded regulatory levels. The area also is designated as Serious Non-attainment for PM10 (dust) and is experiencing increasing levels for PM2.5 (soot) that could potentially result in the region's status changed to Non-attainment for PM2.5. As the classification becomes more severe, Clean Air Act requirements become more stringent and costly. Failure to meet the standard by established deadlines has economic repercussions.
City staff are working with a variety of organizations to develop solutions for improving our air quality. The Maricopa Association of Governments, Maricopa County Air Quality Division, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and others including coalitions such as Arizona Thrives are all working on air quality solutions. Phoenix's involvement with C40 Cities has provided us with additional tools and resources for problem solving. Being a signatory city on the C40 Clean Air Cities Declaration will reaffirm our commitment to working toward clean air for everyone and will serve as a mechanism to bring others to the table.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee recommended approval of this item on April 7, 2021, by a vote of 4-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Office of Environmental Programs.