About UCAIR
UCAIR educates and empowers individuals, businesses, and community leaders to make changes that collectively improve air quality, supporting a stronger economy, better health, and overall quality of life.
What We Do
UCAIR is not an advocacy organization and, by policy, is prohibited from engaging in lobbying or attempting to influence legislation. While UCAIR recognizes that partner organizations may choose to participate in such activities, UCAIR will maintain its commitment to this policy independently of any partnership. We will support our partners’ efforts where possible, provided that such support does not conflict with the guidelines that govern our work.
Educate
The first step to changing behavior is understanding. That’s why UCAIR focuses on education, explaining why air quality matters in Utah and sharing practical actions you can take each day to help make a collective difference.
Provide Grants
UCAIR doesn’t just ask people to make changes; it helps make them possible. The UCAIR Grant program helps organizations with creative and innovative ideas reach measurable emissions reductions.
Partner
Utah is home to a strong network of organizations committed to improving air quality. UCAIR’s goal is to provide a common table where partners can come together to combine their strengths, align messaging, share data, and coordinate efforts for greater statewide impact.
Invite Participation
While UCAIR works closely with partner organizations, it also actively involves Utah residents statewide in efforts to improve air quality, including developing and implementing technical solutions.
Why We Do It
Commitments made by individuals to reduce emissions are a critical component of UCAIR’s success and are intended to supplement, not replace, existing regulatory measures. Across Utah, there is broad agreement that clean air matters. Through education, awareness, and support, UCAIR champions a simple principle: by working together, we can make a difference. Even small actions and behavior changes help improve air quality and make it easier for everyone in Utah to breathe a little easier.
Utah’s Unique Geography and Weather Patterns Create Challenges
Air quality is a significant concern for Utah residents. The state’s topography and climate lead to episodic air pollution during the winter and summer months. Seasonal temperature inversions trap emissions that form particulate matter and ozone. Complex chemical processes create these harmful pollutants, which often rise to unhealthy levels, posing public health risks, economic consequences and decreased quality of life.
Some Utah Areas Don’t Meet EPA Standards for Air Quality
While the Wasatch Front is now in maintenance for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), areas remain in nonattainment for ozone. We must continue our collective efforts to maintain this progress and meet all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.
Substandard Air Quality Poses Health Risks
Pollution levels exceeding EPA health standards create health risks, particularly for children, older adults and people with respiratory problems.
Substandard Air Quality Hinders Economic Growth
Poor air quality hinders corporate relocation efforts and increases costs for businesses, including health care costs. Good air quality is essential to maintaining Utah’s quality of life.
Government Regulations Are Not Enough
Government agencies continue to regulate what they can to improve air quality but the majority of emissions in Utah come from sources that are difficult to regulate — vehicles, homes and small businesses. Reducing these emissions sources is dependent on small measures that individuals choose to take.
