Clean Air Allies Supports FAS State and Local Heat Policy Agenda, Joins Schools Working Group

It’s only early July, and already in recent weeks, thousands of communities across the United States have seen all-time high temperature records, with more than 180 million Americans under extreme heat alerts last week.

Extreme heat is an important indoor air quality issue. When it’s hot outside, it’s more difficult to maintain safe, healthy, and comfortable temperatures inside — a vital component of indoor air quality. In addition, extreme heat and air pollution like wildfire smoke can have synergistic effects, with children a population of particular concern.

Clean Air Allies is thus proud to be among the more than 150 organizations and governments from 40+ states supporting the State and Local Heat Policy Agenda, released by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) today. We will also be participating in a related working group focused on extreme heat in schools.

The agenda recognizes schools and childcare facilities as critical settings for heat safety because “heat harms our children’s health, development, activity, mood, sleep, and ability to focus.” It calls for every child to be “guaranteed a cool environment” to play and learn in.

Since our founding, Clean Air Allies has taken a holistic approach to school indoor air quality, including in its outreach and advocacy around the CalSHAPE grant program, which has provided funding for HVAC work that is essential for California schools’ resilience against extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and infectious diseases.

The recent CalSHAPE cost-benefit analysis prepared by economist Richard Bruns pro bono for Clean Air Allies addresses the educational and health benefits of reducing classroom exposure to pollution, infections, and extreme temperatures.

We will also be releasing a School IAQ Brief on extreme heat in schools, which will be available in coming months.

Explore the FAS State and Local Heat Policy Agenda website