GCAF Celebrates 25 years of Cleaner Air on World Environment Day

June 5 not only marks the celebration of Georgia’s Clean Air Force’s silver jubilee, but it is also honored as World Environment Day, an initiative launched by the United Nations in 1974 to encourage worldwide awareness and action about the protection of our environment.

Since its creation in 1996, Georgia’s Clean Air Force, in partnership with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), has removed 2.0 million tons of harmful pollutants, including 1.8 million tons of carbon monoxide from entering the air Georgians breathe. This is the equivalent of planting more than 522.7 million trees. Additionally, 160,000 tons of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide (NOx) and 101,800 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been eliminated.

It is also estimated that Georgia residents have saved $400 million in utility bills due to cleaner air. The program has also identified and repaired more than four million heavy-polluting vehicles.

“Vehicle emissions are a major contributor to air pollution, and in commemorating our 25th anniversary, we will continue working to prevent the long-term health, environmental and economic impacts air pollution makes,” said Michael Odom, Mobile & Area Sources Manager, Georgia EPD. “We celebrate this anniversary on World Environment Day to applaud the efforts of motorists, the station inspectors and the tag offices who seamlessly make this program successful.”

According to the United Health Foundation’s “America’s Health Rankings,” Georgians were exposed less than the average American to particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less. This accomplishment is due to in part to Georgia’s Clean Air Force’s commitment to better air quality.

For additional information, please visit Georgia’s Clean Air Force’s website at http://www.cleanairforce.com.