In 10 disadvantaged communities (DACs) across the state in 2022, DEC introduced a groundbreaking mobile monitoring effort for greenhouse gases and air quality. The targeted locations, which include neighborhoods with high pollution levels, are home to about five million New Yorkers. The State's Climate Justice Working Group produced selection criteria that were used to choose the 10 communities for air quality monitoring. The Working Group, which is made up of representatives from environmental justice and community organizations from all throughout the state, works to ensure that the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act benefits every community in New York.
To measure air pollution from sources like automobiles, diesel vehicles, construction machinery, industrial facilities, and commercial sources, New York State hired Aclima. Aclima automobiles equipped with sensors drive around neighborhood streets, block by block, and across communities to gather data on air pollution. Each road stretch is driven at least 20 times to obtain measurements during various hours of the day, days of the week, and times of the year. Each community's community-based organizations contributed to the selection and definition of particular monitoring areas.