Air Central Texas
The Air Central Texas initiative is a public education outreach campaign that focuses on reducing exposure to air pollution in Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown Metropolitan Statistical Area, or Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties.
The campaign educates people and organizations about taking voluntary actions that decrease emissions and help the public to avoid exposure to high pollution levels when they occur. Through Air Central Texas, CAPCOG and its partners provide the public with information about Central Texas air quality, support existing air quality programs, and motivate the public to “Be Air Aware” when making their daily decisions.
As part of the Air Central Texas campaign, CAPCOG operates social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter to educate people about actions they can take to prevent air pollution and protect themselves when pollution levels may be harmful. It also uses them to alert residents when ozone levels become harmful. It is recommended at all community partners and Clean Air Coalition members follow, share, like, or retweet the Air Central Texas accounts when appropriate.
Air Central Texas Ozone Season Newsletter
As another part of the campaign, CAPCOG compiles a monthly e-newsletter during the ozone season, March through November. The newsletter brings its subscribers a variety of current event articles related to air quality, provides tip for protecting oneself from air pollution and reducing activities that can be attributed to air pollution. It also provides a summary of how ozone levels and other pollutants are fairing during the season.
National Air Quality Awareness Week
Each year, CAPCOG participates in National Air Quality Awareness Week, the first week in May by promoting Air Central Texas. The national awareness campaign promotes events that increase air quality awareness and encourage people to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) daily. It is spearhead by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – National Weather Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Forest Service, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and U.S. Department of State – Environmental Protection Agency. The CAPCOG Air Quality Program traditionally coordinates a week-long social media campaign with the CAC partners to raise awareness of air quality throughout the region.
