Air pollution is the second leading cause of premature death in the world, killing 8.1 million people annually. The demographic that is disproportionately affected by the impacts of air pollution? Youth, which can be subject to asthma, respiratory illness, or even heart disease after intense air pollution exposure.
I co-founded ConServe, an international nonprofit (chapters in 15+ states in the U.S. + chapters in 4 continents) that combats air pollution through passing school board and county office of education air pollution resolutions. We work to incorporate youth voice to write resolutions that recognize the threat that air pollution poses to students (health impacts, increased absences, violence, etc.) and urge districts/County Offices of Education to incorporate air pollution into school curriculum and take action. In the state of California alone, our work has reached over 30 school districts and four county offices of education, spanning over 800 schools where we've directly passed resolutions.
