Alameda County – Planning for a Healthy Future
For the past decade, Alameda County has been bringing its vision of a healthy environment and thriving population to life through the County’s Climate Action Plan for Government Services and Operations.
In 2021, Alameda County received the inaugural Beacon Leadership and Innovation Award for cross-agency collaboration in climate resilience and adaptation for its Air Quality Communications Protocol.
With larger, more frequent wildfires across the state, smoke and poor air quality pose an increasing threat to public health. Alameda County’s new protocol aims to reach the most vulnerable populations –particularly people with pre-existing respiratory conditions, children, older adults, and people experiencing homelessness – with vital health messages and air quality alerts.
When the air quality index reaches dangerous levels, Alameda County makes available clear information in multiple languages, designed specifically for hard-to-reach populations. The goal is to use trusted channels to alert residents. Through the protocol, the County has successfully shared important health safety information with residents during the October 2019 and August 2020 wildfires.
The Air Quality Communications Protocol is a collaborative effort among the General Services Agency Office of Sustainability, the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, Health Care Services Agency and Public Health Department, and Fire Department, as well as other internal and external partners. The County found that working on the protocol helped strengthen relationships across County agencies and within the community. The County’s work in building relationships and creating communications channels to reach vulnerable populations built a foundation for sharing critical messaging in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a decade of climate leadership, Alameda County continues to lead the way on climate action and resiliency. Congratulations, Alameda County! To learn more about Alameda County’s climate action leadership, check out the five-minute video, “Planning for a Healthy Future: A Decade of Climate Action Leadership”: