Clean Air Action Day 2025: Improving Air Quality in Dallas

Introduction to Clean Air Action Day 

This Friday, June 6, 2025, marks Clean Air Action Day in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region, a key initiative led by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) through its Air North Texas campaign. This regional public awareness effort encourages individuals, businesses, and governments to take actionable steps to reduce air pollution, particularly ground-level ozone, and protect public health and the environment. Join us in making a difference for cleaner air in North Texas! 

Air Quality in the Dallas-Fort Worth Region 

Air quality in the DFW region has seen improvements over the years, but challenges remain. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated Dallas as marginal nonattainment for the 2015 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), with a compliance deadline of 2027. Ozone, a harmful gas formed from vehicle emissions, industrial activity, and other sources, poses risks to respiratory health, especially for children, the elderly, and those with asthma. 

• Current Status: Ozone levels remain a concern for Dallas, with 52 total exceedance days recorded for 2024 ozone season. 

• Health Impact: Poor air quality exacerbates asthma and other respiratory issues, with hospitalizations concentrated in southern and western Dallas. 

• Goal: NCTCOG aims to reduce ozone to 75 parts per billion or lower by 2027 to avoid potential $45 million annual fines under the Clean Air Act. 

  
  

Actionable Items for Clean Air Action Day 

Everyone can contribute to cleaner air on June 6 and beyond! Here are practical steps from Air North Texas to reduce ozone-causing pollution: 

1. Reduce Vehicle Use: 

   • Carpool or vanpool with friends, family, or coworkers. 

   • Use public transit, such as Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) buses or trains. 

   • Bike or walk for short trips instead of driving. 

2. Conserve Energy: 

   • Turn off lights and electronics when not in use. 

   • Set thermostats a few degrees higher to reduce energy consumption. 

3. Modify Daily Habits: 

   • Avoid idling your car—turn off the engine when parked. 

   • Refuel vehicles in the evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize ozone formation. 

   • Use electric-powered equipment or postpone lawn mowing until after 6 p.m.  

4. Track Your Impact: 

   • Use the Try Parking It app to log greener commute trips and earn rewards or coupons from participating businesses. 

5. Spread Awareness: 

   • Share clean air tips with friends and family via social media or community events. 

     
     

City of Dallas: Efforts to Improve Air Quality 

The City of Dallas is committed to cleaner air through its Comprehensive Environmental & Climate Action Plan (CECAP), unanimously adopted by the Dallas City Council on May 27, 2020. The CECAP outlines 97 actions across eight sectors to address environmental challenges, with specific air quality goals: 

• Meet NAAQS Standards: 

  • Achieve ground-level ozone attainment by 2030 and maintain compliance through 2050. 

  • Maintain attainment for lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, PM10, PM2.5, and sulfur dioxide through 2050. 

• Key Actions: 

  • Dallas Community Air Management Program (DCAMP): The city has installed neighborhood air quality monitors in Dallas communities to track pollution trends. 

  • Building Efficiency: Update building codes to support solar-ready construction and EV charging infrastructure for new buildings. 

  • Transportation: Transition city buses to 100% electric by 2040, reducing transportation emissions, which account for 35% of Dallas’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

  • Equity Focus: Address equity by prioritizing air quality monitoring and pollution prevention in vulnerable southern and western neighborhoods. 

  • Dallas Parking Reform: The Dallas City Council has removed regulations that mandated a specific number of parking spaces for every property, creating a more context-sensitive approach.   

• Progress: Since 2015, Dallas uses renewable energy credits to offset all electric consumption in city facilities, and the Office of Environmental Quality & Sustainability conducts outreach and air quality initiatives. 

  
  

What Residents Can Do 

Dallas residents play a vital role in improving air quality! Here are actionable steps to support the city’s CECAP goals and Clean Air Action Day: 

• Adopt Greener Travel: 

  • Switch to energy-efficient or electric vehicles (EVs) and use EV charging stations. 

  • Carpool, bike, or use DART to reduce single-occupancy car trips (76% of DFW cars carry just one person). 

• Conserve at Home: 

  • Recycle electronics through the Dallas Electronic Recycling Program—items like computers, TVs, and printers are accepted. 

  • Plant trees with the Texas Trees Foundation to cool neighborhoods and filter air. 

• Get Involved: 

  • Volunteer for community cleanups or tree-planting events. 

  • Provide input on the Dallas Community Air Management Program (D-CAMP), which places sensors to monitor air quality, especially in environmental justice areas. 

  • Join Air North Texas as a partner to access resources, materials, and eligibility for annual awards. 

• Stay Informed: 

  • Sign up for Air North Texas email alerts for poor air quality days. 

  • Check real-time air quality data at www.airnorthtexas.org or the D-CAMP dashboard. 

    
    

Clean Air Action Day on June 6, 2025, is a chance for all North Texans to unite for cleaner, healthier air. The Dallas-Fort Worth region faces an ozone challenge, but through the City of Dallas’ CECAP initiatives, NCTCOG’s Air North Texas campaign, and your actions, we can make progress. Whether you carpool, conserve energy, or plant a tree, every step counts. Let’s breathe easier together—join us this Friday and beyond! Visit www.airnorthtexas.org for more resources and to become a clean air champion. 

Resources:

Air North Texas

DCAMP Air Quality Dashboard

City of Dallas Youtube Video: Ozone Action Day

City of Dallas YouTube Video:  Clean Air Action Day 2024