Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Clean Air Action Day, the annual celebration of environmental awareness put on by Air North Texas will be observed differently this year. 

The City of Dallas will sponsor a virtual Air Quality Town Hall meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., August 4,  the first in a series of quarterly town halls to support their Comprehensive Environment and Climate Action Plan.

It will focus on the objective that all Dallas communities breathe clean air. Buzz Smith will speak on electric vehicles and Dr. Haneen Khreis, from Texas Tech, will talk about air quality and environmental justice.

Many social distancing strategies such as working from home, can double as clean air strategies as residents pledge to do simple things every day to positively impact air quality. It is important to work toward better air quality every day, especially in Dallas-Fort Worth, which remains in nonattainment for ozone pollution.

People can also plan the most fuel-efficient route and combine trips when they do have to drive. Other examples include bicycling or walking to the store, packing lunch in a reusable bag and buying locally grown foods. North Texans are encouraged to observe social distancing protocols while aiming to improve air quality.

Sign up for air pollution alerts at AirNorthTexas.org/signup. Individuals will be notified when ozone levels are predicted to be unhealthy so they can take extra precautions and limit actions that affect air quality on those days. Visit AirNorthTexas.org/howto for resources and information on programs that can help improve air quality each day.