The California Legislature created the Air District in 1955 as the first regional air pollution control agency in the country.  The Air District is tasked with regulating stationary sources of air pollution in the nine counties that surround San Francisco Bay: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, southwestern Solano, and southern Sonoma counties.  It is governed by a 24-member Board of Directors composed of locally elected officials from each of the nine Bay Area counties, with the number of board members from each county being proportionate to its population.

The Air District recognizes and values the contributions of every employee and works to sustain an environment where everyone is respected. The Air District has established an Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion to support these values in the workplace and beyond.

The Air District aims to create a healthy breathing environment for every Bay Area resident while protecting and improving public health, air quality, and the global climate.

Values

Five core values drive all aspects of our work and vision for the future:

Excellence

Our programs and policies are founded on science, developed with technical expertise, and executed with distinction.

Leadership

We are at the forefront of air quality improvement and pioneer new strategies to achieve healthy air and protect the climate.

Collaboration

We include and engage all stakeholders to create broad acceptance for healthy air solutions.

Dedication

Our staff are genuinely committed to our mission and values.

Equity

We maintain the right of Bay Area residents to breathe clean air.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity is the collection of everything that makes us different. It includes individual differences (e.g., personality, language, life experiences) and group-social differences (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual identity, age, country of origin, ability status, or cultural, political, religious, and other affiliations).

Equity is the creation of equal access to opportunities that closes demographic disparities within all areas of the organization and society at large.

Inclusion is a state of being valued, respected and supported that enables each individual to achieve their full potential. Inclusion is reflected within the organizational culture, practices, and relationships that support diverse communities.