Health Urban Air Quality and Health Initiative May 2015 Legislative Directive 2 Concern over relationship between air quality and health 2013 Session directs MDH and MPCA to study trends and community impacts ID: 332281
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Twin Cities Air Pollution and HealthUrban Air Quality and Health Initiative
May 2015Slide2
Legislative Directive2Concern over relationship between air quality and health2013 Session directs MDH and MPCA to study trends and community impacts
Twin Cities area targeted:High risk populationsAir quality data availableSlide3
Initiative DeliverablesTechnical report on air quality and related health hazardsPresents scientific evidence/dataCommunity ToolkitCreates a central location for information, data, and action stepsHealth Impact Assessment
Gather community input on air quality issues through an HIA on Green Zones in Minneapolis
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State Agency ParticipantsMPCA StaffAir Assessment SectionEnvironmental Justice Coordinator MDH Staff
Environmental Surveillance and Assessment SectionChronic Disease & Environmental Epidemiology Section
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Health Impact AssessmentFocused on communities in the Twin Cities with the highest burden of poor air quality and poor respiratory healthInform decision-makers about the effects of policies on the health of people Makes specific recommendations to improve health outcomes5Slide6
Assessment of Risks6
Used GIS to overlap risk layers and estimate vulnerability score in determining HIA study areaSlide7
Assessment of Risks7
Used GIS to overlap risk layers and estimate vulnerability score in determining HIA study areaSlide8
Funding Process
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Contract issued
for HIA Funds
Funds re-granted
into smaller amounts
to multiple organizationsSlide9
HIA Partners9Slide10
Community Engagement ModelMeetings held in the communityInclusive rather than competitiveFunding provided, though not muchDecisions by consensus10Slide11
HIA on Minneapolis Green ZonesTarget public and private investment in neighborhoods with the highest levels of pollution and environmental degradationEnsure environmental justice included in plans11Slide12
Primary Issues Examined by HIAHealthy Air QualityOzone and PM2.5 primary contaminants Greater impacts to elderly, children, poor, unhealthyAffordable, Safe, Quality HousingCity code enforcement Healthy Home = dry, clean, pest-free, ventilated, safe, contaminant free, maintained
Energy Justice/EquityResidential Energy UseLocal economic impact and opportunity
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Next Steps Community partners will keep meeting and pursue additional funding to continue the collaborationEncourage Minneapolis to create Green ZoneContinue to address health inequitiesMore state agency collaboration
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ConclusionsActively engaging impacted communities takes time, but results in a better solutionGreen Zones can help mitigate environmental hazards and inequitiesAir pollution impacts mirror established health disparities14Slide15
Contact InformationLinden WeiswerdaPrincipal PlannerClimate & Health ProgramMinnesota Department of Health
651-201-4924linden.weiswerda@state.mn.us
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