Eliminating air pollution disparities requires more than emission reduction

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Koolik, Libby H.; Bullard, Robert D.; Min, Esther; Morello-Frosch, Rachel; Patterson, Regan; Salgado, Manuel; Wedekind, Nico; Marshall, Julian D.; Apte, Joshua S.
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Berkeley; Texas Southern University; University of California System; University of California Berkeley; University of California System; University of California Los Angeles; University of Washington; University of Washington Seattle
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2505888122
• 发表日期: 2025-12-16
• 页码: e2505888122
• 关键词: Air pollution; environmental policy; environmental justice; southern california; Vehicle emissions; INTAKE FRACTION; pollutants; INEQUALITY; QUALITY

摘要

In the United States, people of color are disproportionately and unjustly exposed to air pollution. Historically, environmental policy has emphasized aggregate emission reductions, yet major emission reduction scenarios do not sufficiently mitigate relative exposure disparities. Here, we show that without focusing on relative disparity (percent difference) in exposure, the only way to improve air quality and eliminate absolute exposure disparity is to eliminate all emissions (an unlikely outcome). We demonstrate that the relative disparity metric is ethically important and also a controllable societal feature that can reduce absolute disparity in exposure. We illustrate a range of approaches to air pollution policy that go beyond traditional emission reductions to meaningfully address exposure disparities. These strategies should be at the center of the future US environmental policy.