On April 5, 2024, South Coast AQMD hosted the 34th Annual Clean Air Awards. The event celebrated the remarkable contributions of community leaders, organizations, and businesses dedicated to improving air quality. Spectrum News 1 Meteorologist Autumn Robertson served as the emcee.
This year’s Clean Air Awards recipients include:
Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian received the S. Roy Wilson Memorial Award for Leadership in Government for his service as a prominent role model for genuine leadership in the arena of clean air advancements.
Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. received the Robert M. Zweig, M.D. Memorial Award for his exemplary dedication to protecting public health through his “Environmental Justice Act,” supporting efforts to mitigate and remediate impacts related to the Salton Sea, and countless efforts to uplift overburdened communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley and beyond.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta received the Dr. William A. Burke Award for Leadership in Environmental Justice for championing initiatives to improve air quality and for giving a voice to frontline communities.
Schneider National Inc. and the Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative (JETSI ) received the John J. and Ben J. Benoit Award for Innovative Clean Air Technology for their commitment to sustainability and for embracing clean technology in reducing the company’s environmental footprint.
The University of California, Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering - Center for Environmental Research & Technology received the Leadership in Air Quality Award for being a leading force in tackling air quality challenges and for pioneering the development of technologies that protect our environment.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez also received this award for her leadership in advocating for clean air and environmental justice, prioritizing sustainable solutions, and empowering communities to address environmental challenges.
Emily Ng received the Youth Leadership in Air Quality Award for her dedication to environmental sustainability through her work with South Coast AQMD, Southern California Association of Governments, CivicSpark AmeriCorps Fellow in the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, and as Commissioner on Los Angeles County’s Youth Climate Commission.