California Air Resources Board

What you need to know: California’s Community Air Protection Program continues delivering air quality gains in neighborhoods with longstanding pollution challenges. A new report shows the statewide lifetime reduction of 27,000 tons of air pollution and 293,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas through expanded monitoring, strengthened enforcement, new rules targeting major pollution sources, and significant investments of Cap-and-Invest funds in clean air projects across 19 communities.  

SACRAMENTO – Millions of Californians living in communities with some of the heaviest pollution burdens are seeing cleaner air and stronger protections thanks to the Community Air Protection Program, established under Assembly Bill 617 of 2017. The newly released report highlights progress across the state as community-driven strategies, expanded monitoring networks, and new rules work together to reduce harmful emissions and improve public health. 

“California’s investments are delivering real results in the communities that need them most — cleaner air, stronger protections, and tools that empower residents to shape their own environmental future,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “This progress shows what’s possible when science, community leadership, and sustained state action come together.” 

“Communities across California are demonstrating that when residents, local organizations, and public agencies collaborate, cleaner air follows,” said Lauren Sanchez, chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). “This year’s report highlights a turning point—data-driven tools, new regulations, and historic investments are empowering communities to shape the solutions that protect their health. We remain committed to ensuring every neighborhood has access to clean, breathable air.” 

With $150 million in new funding, the program continues across the state as CARB and local air districts work with residents to carry out strategies identified by Community Steering Committees, strengthen enforcement, and implement new regulations that will produce long-term, enforceable emission reductions. Explore community-by-community progress in the interactive StoryMap, featuring program data, videos, and project highlights. CARB completed the Community Air Protection Program report. 

Turning Cap-and-Invest proceeds into lasting community air quality gains 

Since 2018, CARB has invested more than $837 million Cap-and-Invest dollars in community-prioritized clean air projects statewide through this program, resulting in a reduction of more than 27,000 tons of air pollution and 293,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas. This includes funding for clean mobility, filtration systems, air monitoring, dust reduction, and industrial emission controls. Of the 122 California Climate Investments funded programs, CAP incentives rank first in total NOx reductions and fifth in total PM2.5 reductions. Per dollar spent, CAP incentives are third in NOx and sixth in PM2.5, meaning these investments are cost-effective and target the places with the dirtiest air where people live, work and play. 

In 2025 alone, communities saw continued progress from these investments, supported by more than 13,800 cumulative projects. 

New examples from 2025 include: 

• Expanded community air monitoringnetworks across multiple regions, including advanced particulate sensors, targeted mobile monitoring vehicles, and localized toxic air contaminant studies 

• New investments in school and neighborhood air filtration, improving indoor air quality for thousands of families in rural and urban communities alike — including nearly 6,000 air purifiers for residents near the Tijuana River Valley and $1.3 million in high-efficiency filtration and five years of filter replacements for 14 schools in Richmond, North Richmond, and San Pablo. 

• Advanced equipment replacement efforts, including small offroad engines, industrial heaters, and other high emitting devices identified through community-led processes 

• Mobile enforcement support, enabling rapid deployment of monitoring equipment in areas experiencing unexpected pollution spikes 

These investments continue to meet or exceed requirements to direct funding toward disadvantaged and low-income communities. 

Community drives success across California  

The 2025 report highlights new community achievements not featured in previous releases, including: 

• East Oakland and South Sacramento–Florin: Newly adopted Community Emissions Reduction Programs advance community-identified priorities, such as indoor air filtration, transportation, local monitoring, and industrial pollution controls. This short video shares the excitement of South Sacramento residents about the plan they co-created with the Sac Metro Air District. 

• Eastern Coachella Valley: Final pesticide air monitoring results presented to residents, accompanied by health assessments and expanded monitoring commitments 

• Stockton and Shafter: Deployment of high-quality fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) monitoring technology and targeted speciation analyses to better understand pollutant sources 

• International Border Communities: Realtime monitoring of PM 2.5, nitrogen dioxide, and black carbon offering continuous insights into cross-border emissions. 

• Lost Hills, Madera, Stanislaus, and other grantees: Local community emissions reduction planning supported through new community air grants, technical assessments, and community-centered monitoring projects 

These achievements underscore the program’s growing emphasis on community technical capacity, monitoring transparency, and equitable distribution of tools and data. 

New rules and regulations protect community air 

The most substantial long term emission reductions continue to come from local air district rules and CARB regulations, informed by community priorities. 

Recent regulatory actions include: 

• Updated industrial combustion standards projected to significantly cut nitrogen oxides emissions in multiple districts 
• Refinery emissions rules requiring advanced controls at major facilities with high particulate and toxic pollutant emissions  
• Agricultural burning restrictions that have sharply reduced annual acreage burned and associated particulate matter.  
• New controls on petroleum operations targeting leaks, fugitive emissions, and localized exposure risks near sensitive land uses 
• Advanced clean equipment standards for off-road engines and transport refrigeration units, helping reduce diesel pollution across warehouse, freight, and agricultural corridors 

These rules complement community-level strategies and bolster statewide progress toward cleaner air and reduced health risks. 

Expanding program reach 

Blueprint 2.0, adopted in 2023, expands program resources to 64 consistently nominated communities, offering new pathways to address longstanding pollution burdens: 

Key 2025–2026 advancements include: 

• Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative: A $27 million investment generating first ever block by block air quality data in more than 60 communities, nearly 10 billion air quality measurements, using Aclima mobile platforms and specialized laboratories from UC Berkeley, UC Riverside, and Aerodyne Research 

• New community air grants supporting monitoring, capacity-building, and emissions reduction planning 

• Strengthened enforcement strategies, including expanded truck and rail inspections in environmental justice neighborhoods 

• Improved transparency tools, including dashboards, public data portals, and new versions of AQView and the California Air Toxics Assessment 

The expansion reinforces California’s commitment to supporting communities most affected by air pollution — whether or not they are part of the original AB 617 selection. 

About California Climate Investments 

Community Air Protection Program is part of California Climate Investments, which uses billions of Cap-and-Invest dollars to fund projects that reduce harmful emissions, protect public health, strengthen local economies, and support natural environments. With a strong focus on communities most impacted by pollution and limited access to resources, California Climate Investments helps build a more equitable and sustainable future.