The Air District is sending representatives to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 through November 22. Air District Board of Directors Chair Davina Hurt and Executive Officer Dr. Philip Fine will hold a virtual press conference on Tuesday, November 19 at 10 AM. Bay Area residents are invited to join the discussion, ask questions and share their concerns by connecting with the Air District on Facebook during the livestream press conference.

The Air District has released a woodsmoke White Paper for public comment, which provides extensive information on wood burning in the Bay Area, the current state of the regulatory landscape for wood-burning devices, and a discussion of potential recommendations to further minimize woodsmoke emissions and exposures.

The Air District and the California Air Resources Board are announcing a nearly $82 million penalty in a joint case to address significant air pollution violations by Valero Refining Co. at its Benicia refinery. This penalty is the largest ever assessed in the Air District’s history.

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory due to smoke for Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26. Smoke from prescribed fires near Pescadero may impact air quality along the Peninsula – south of San Francisco and north of San Jose. Conditions can change rapidly and the amount and location of smoke at ground level is hard to predict.