How to Improve Air Pollution: 7 Actions You Can Take Today
It’s often at the local level that real change occurs.
As a resident, you can have a strong voice with your town, city or county.
Most residents generally don’t take the time to speak up, so a few voices united on an issue may count for a lot, and even one voice can be enough to start the conversation.
Gasoline: A Major Driver of Air Pollution—and What We Can Do About It
To truly improve air pollution, we must confront one of its most dangerous and preventable sources: gasoline and diesel vehicles.
Cars, trucks, and buses are the top emitters of nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) in the U.S.—toxic gases that inflame airways, stunt lung development, cause premature death and fuel smog and acid rain. Tailpipe pollution also releases benzene, carbon monoxide, and smog-forming chemicals that hit hardest in communities near highways, schools, and city centers—often home to the most vulnerable populations.
But the harm doesn’t stop at the tailpipe. From oil extraction and fracking—damaging nearly hundreds of thousands of acres of U.S. land and leaking billions of pounds of methane—to catastrophic spills, refinery explosions, and leaky underground gas tanks, gasoline pollutes at every stage of its life cycle.
And perhaps most importantly, burning gasoline adds 20 pounds of CO₂ per gallon to the atmosphere, making transportation the largest source of planet-warming CO₂ emissions in the U.S.
The good news? We can act—right now and close to home. This article outlines eight powerful local actions you can take to improve air pollution, protect public health, and accelerate the switch to cleaner, cheaper transportation options.
From contacting your city council to helping others, these steps empower individuals and communities to lead the transition away from gasoline and toward a cleaner, healthier, more affordable future.
Here Are Some Local Actions You Can Take:
1. Drive Electric and Inspire Others to Choose Cleaner Air
To reduce air pollution, one of the most powerful steps you can take is to stop burning gasoline. According to the EPA, mobile sources like cars and trucks produce over half of all U.S. air pollution, with automobiles being the largest single contributor.
Switching to an EV doesn’t just lower emissions — it eliminates them at the tailpipe entirely. That means cleaner air on the streets where people live, breathe, and play. And for drivers, EVs are a win-win: they’re cheaper to fuel, cost less to maintain, and offer a quieter, smoother ride. Many drivers report falling in love with their EV after the first week — it’s not just a cleaner choice, it’s a better one.
Make the Switch and Help Drive Change
Already driving electric? You have a powerful voice in your community. People trust friends and neighbors more than ads—so sharing your experience can go a long way in helping others overcome myths and confusion about EVs.
Use our free EV Social Media Toolkit to easily spread the word, bust common myths, and encourage more people to choose clean transportation. Every post, comment, or conversation helps spark a shift away from gasoline and toward cleaner air for everyone.
2. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Cities control land use, local charging infrastructure, curb space, zoning, building codes, and parking codes. Often a simple request to local government leaders can result in a change that makes a real difference.
Engaging city leaders about ways to reduce air pollution—such as building EV charging stations or electrifying city vehicle fleets—is a powerful way to create lasting change.
a. Look up how to contact your city council, when city council meetings are held, and the agenda for the next meeting. Usually city council meetings include an opportunity (typically 2-3 minutes per speaker) for public comment on any topic, even if it’s not on the meeting agenda.
b. Send an email or make a comment at the next city council meeting encouraging action in one or more of the above areas.
Sample message or talking points:
I have lived in this city for ___ years, and I care deeply about our air quality and the climate.
I think it’s important for our city to move beyond gasoline use and toward clean transportation such as electric vehicles.
Vehicle emissions are the leading preventable cause of air pollution. They increase risks of asthma, heart disease, lung disease, cancer and dementia. A study from MIT found that vehicle emissions cause 58,000 deaths a year in the U.S. – more deaths than car crashes or secondhand smoke. The worst effects are on children, people of color, and people who commute in heavy traffic or live near busy roads.
In addition to causing air pollution, transportation is our country’s single biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions. To address climate change, we must address vehicle emissions.
Phasing out gasoline vehicles will also save our residents money on fuel, create green jobs, spur economic growth and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Our city can and should take steps to facilitate the transition to cleaner vehicles. Here are a few actions to take:
[Select any one or more of the measures below that you believe are most important for your city – feel free to add your own!]
- Installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure in public places.
- Building codes requiring electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new construction (see example here (starting on page 36))
- Electrification of the city-owned fleet (see here for the Public Fleet One-Stop EV Procurement Portal and here for a sample city policy.)
- City education and outreach, like through EV ride and drive events.
- Tracking and reporting on a regular basis the total gasoline sales for the city (driving that number down is key to reducing carbon emissions).
- Adding wayfinding signage at major intersections indicating the location of nearby public electric vehicle charging – this helps non-EV drivers know that there are plenty of chargers available.
- City arrangement with transit agencies for clean buses.
- Streamlined, free, online permitting for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
I would be happy to help our city make progress on any of these measures.
Thank you for your leadership.
Sincerely,
[Your name and address]
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3. ENCOURAGE OTHER CITY RESIDENTS TO SEND SIMILAR MESSAGES TO THE CITY COUNCIL
Often a handful of residents speaking up on an issue is enough to mobilize the city to take action.
By sharing with neighbors about the importance of community actions for cleaner air, you strengthen public support and spur city leaders toward implementing policies that improve air quality.
To take it to the next level, consider starting an Electric Vehicle Association Chapter in your area.
4. ASK FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS
Ask your employer, your landlord, your supermarket, your shopping center, place of worship and anywhere else you visit, to put in electric vehicle charging stations.
Encouraging businesses, landlords, and community centers to install EV chargers is a practical approach for promoting electric vehicles and air quality improvements. Every new EV charger supports reduced reliance on gasoline.
5. SUBMIT AN OP ED OR LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Educate your community about the impacts of gasoline vehicles and the need to phase them out with an Op Ed or letter to the editor.
Sharing your knowledge through local media increases public understanding of the health impacts of air pollution and motivates collective action.
Use the following template as a starting point, or write your own. Look up the guidelines for submitting an Op Ed for your local paper, as they may include specific word count limits. Let Coltura know if your letter is published!
Sample Op Ed:
It’s Time for Our State to Plan the Switch from Gasoline to Electric Vehicles
By [Your Name]
As gas prices remain unpredictable and the climate crisis intensifies, one thing is clear: our state needs a plan to phase out gasoline vehicles and embrace electric transportation. It’s not just an environmental imperative — it’s a practical step to save drivers money, improve public health, and modernize our energy grid.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are far cheaper to fuel and maintain than gas-powered cars. Charging at home often costs the equivalent of paying $1.50 per gallon — and EVs don’t need oil changes, exhaust repairs, or timing belt replacements. These savings add up, especially for low- and middle-income families who rely on their vehicles every day.
Switching to EVs also cuts pollution. Gasoline cars are a major source of smog and harmful particulates that worsen asthma, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Electrifying our transportation system means cleaner air, healthier lungs, and fewer days missed from school and work.
There’s another powerful benefit: EVs can help stabilize our power grid. With the right infrastructure, parked EVs can store renewable energy and release it back to the grid during peak demand — making the whole system more resilient and putting downward pressure on electric rates for everyone.
Other states are already creating thoughtful plans to phase out gas-powered vehicles and support drivers in making the switch. Our state shouldn’t fall behind. We need a roadmap — with clear timelines, investments in charging infrastructure, incentives for drivers and businesses, and policies that ensure no community is left behind.
The gasoline era is ending. Let’s lead the way to a cleaner, cheaper, healthier future by making a plan now.
6. ASK AUTO DEALERSHIPS IN YOUR AREA TO JOIN AN EV TRAINING/CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Dealership engagement accelerates EV adoption, directly contributing to ways to reduce air pollution in your community.
Ask your local dealership to take EV sales training and get a PlugStar dealer certification or similar.
7. POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Social platforms like NextDoor provide valuable opportunities to educate neighbors and coordinate community-driven actions to fight air pollution.
You can post on NextDoor to alert neighbors to newly installed public EV chargers, city council meetings and opportunities to test drive electric vehicles (your own EV if you’re willing!). It’s also a place to remind neighbors to avoid idling their gas vehicles in populated areas such as schools during pick-up and drop-off.
Improving Air Pollution Conclusion
The air we breathe tomorrow reflects the choices we make today. Improving air pollution isn’t just a distant policy debate; it’s a daily reality that affects our health, our communities, and our future. And that means the solutions start with us.
When we speak up, we become a force for change. Every local step—whether speaking up at a city council meeting, pushing for cleaner transit, or raising awareness with your neighbors—helps break the cycle of pollution and protects public health.
Local action is often the spark that fuels widespread, lasting transformation. Your voice, your choices, your leadership, your determination—they matter more than ever. Thank you for taking a stand for cleaner air and a healthier tomorrow.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are effective ways to improve air pollution in my community?
You can improve air pollution by advocating for local electric vehicle infrastructure, educating your community on gasoline vehicle impacts, pushing local governments to adopt cleaner transportation policies, and actively supporting electric vehicle adoption.
Learn more about reducing air pollution.
Why is local government action essential to improve air pollution?
Local governments control zoning, building codes, and public infrastructure—key areas impacting transportation emissions. By influencing these local decisions, communities can directly reduce air pollution levels and improve overall public health.
How do electric vehicles reduce air pollution?
Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, eliminating pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that cause smog and respiratory illnesses. Switching to EVs drastically improves local air quality and public health.
Read more about why electric cars are better than gas cars and get the facts on EV batteries.
What impact does gasoline pollution have on health?
Gasoline vehicles emit harmful pollutants linked to respiratory illnesses, asthma, cancer, heart disease, and dementia. Reducing gasoline use improves community health significantly, especially benefiting vulnerable populations like children and seniors.
Read more about the dangers of gasoline
How can community education help improve air pollution?
Educating your community raises awareness about pollution sources and solutions, driving collective action. Shared knowledge about electric vehicles, charging stations, and local policies helps build unified momentum toward cleaner air.
Why is air pollution an urgent environmental justice issue?
Marginalized communities disproportionately suffer from gasoline-related air pollution due to proximity to highways and industrial areas. Addressing air pollution through local action helps correct historic inequities and promotes environmental justice.
What role do car dealerships have in improving air quality?
Dealerships influence vehicle choices. Encouraging local dealerships to join EV programs like PlugStar helps expand electric vehicle adoption, directly reducing gasoline use and improving air quality.
How does reducing gasoline use fight climate change?
Transportation is the leading source of carbon emissions. Reducing gasoline use locally cuts greenhouse gases significantly, improving air quality and directly addressing climate change.