Air quality 'to improve in California'

Air quality improvements were the motivation behind a resolution to reduce emissions from ocean-going vessels in California.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) voted unanimously at its national conference to accept a resolution proposed by Santa Barbara County to reduce air polluting discharges from ships travelling offshore.

Santa Barbara County district supervisor Salud Carbajal, who sponsored the motion, said that ocean-going vessels are a substantial source of unregulated toxic emissions which contribute to local air pollution and increased greenhouse gases, sulphur and other airborne impurities.

"These emissions represent a serious threat to our air quality and public health and must be stopped," he said.

Mr Carbajal was elected chair of the air quality subcommittee of NACo's energy, environment and land use committee last week.

The policy takes on new significance in the light of recent comments by the executive officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, who told the LA Times that 5,000 Southern Californians are estimated to die each year due to air pollution.

Written by Joseph Hutton