Clean Air Saves Lives
MCE is proud to join Metropolitan Congregations United, United Congregations of Metro-East, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and Earthday365 in the second-annual St. Louis Region Air Quality Rally on Saturday, July 23 from 9-10 AM on Zoom.
Air quality is an environmental justice issue. For example, in the City of St. Louis, most air pollution sources – including industry, power plants, building demolitions, and major highways – are located in communities of color (Environmental Racism in St. Louis, page 11). As a result, these communities are disproportionately burdened with the health impacts of poor air quality: Black St. Louisians are 8.5x more likely to be hospitalized for asthma compared to white St. Louisians, and this disparity is even greater for children (Environmental Racism in St. Louis, page 7).
This rally marks the second year that environmental, public health, and community advocates from both sides of the Mississippi River have come together to educate local residents about air quality issues and build power to ensure progress is made to curb pollution and promote environmental justice. Join us this Saturday to hear from community leaders and call on policymakers to create more accessible air permitting processes that center environmental justice!
RSVP here to receive the Zoom link: bit.ly/airrally22
Urge the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to reform its air permitting process here.
Interested in learning more about air quality in the St. Louis region?
Metropolitan Congregations United recently launched AirWatchSTL, a community-based air quality monitoring program that aims to equitably, scientifically, and strategically site air quality monitor throughout St. Louis to help fill the air quality data gap in this region. Explore the live map of air quality information and learn about how you can get involved here.
