Breathing polluted air can pose serious health risks. As late as the 1980s, air pollution regularly blanketed the metropolitan Washington region on hot and humid summer days. The region has made tremendous progress in its air quality thanks to more than a decade of actions at the federal, state, and local government levels; however, there is still more work to be done to reduce pollution further.
COG, through the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee (MWAQC), coordinates regional air quality planning activities, reviews policies, resolves policy differences, and adopts air quality plans for transmittal to the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. MWAQC members include area elected officials, environmental directors, and state air management and transportation officials. COG has also been providing regional air quality forecasts since the 1970s, and its Clean Air Partners program educates people on ways to reduce air pollution and protect their health.
Featured Content
Air Quality Progress Dashboard
Data showing region's progress in improving air quality.
What We Can Do to Improve Air Quality in the Metropolitan Washington Region
Report presenting a menu of options to help achieve no unhealthy air days in the region compiled by COG staff for the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee and the Air and Climate Public Advisory Committee.
News & Multimedia
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News
December 19, 2012
ACPAC meets monthly and advises on air quality, climate and energy issues to policy committees at the Council of Governments.
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October 16, 2012
This fall, the Transportation Planning Board will forecast vehicle-related emissions of ozone-forming pollutants in the Washington region for the year 2015. The...
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July 3, 2012
Despite forecasts of slower-than-expected growth in population, employment, and driving in the Washington region through 2020 because of the economic downturn...
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April 27, 2012
This March Jeff King a Principal Environmental Planner at MWCOG and Rick Cole City Manager at the City of Ventura California traveled to the cities of Beijing...
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April 18, 2012
Now at (202) 589-1212, the free service also prominently features air quality information, forecasts. The weather line features meteorologists from D.C. Weather...