Reducing Diesel Emissions, Improving Air Quality, and Promoting Environmental Justice in Southwest Detroit

Abstract

This practicum was designed to assist Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision (SDEV) in identifying opportunities to address ongoing diesel truck emissions and idling in Southwest Detroit. This practicum utilizes a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach that emphasizes a co-learning and reciprocal transfer of knowledge between community participants and researchers (Israel et at 1998). In recent years, CBPR partnerships have seized opportunities to fill the gaps of traditional scientific approaches that often do not take the lay knowledge of communities into account, and may, as a result, miss critical data and/or community insights in data interpretation that could benefit disadvantaged communities (Corburn 2005, 2007; Corburn et al. 2013; Gonzalez et al. 2011; Minkler & Wallerstein 2010).

A “three-prong toolkit” was developed to collect critical data from three distinct groups; 1) trucking/logistics companies, 2) policy stakeholders, and 3) community members. Results of the trucking/logistics survey revealed that 23% of companies did not have internal policies on idling and 38% of companies were unaware of the City of Detroit’s Anti-Idling Ordinance. Results of the policy stakeholder survey revealed the critical need for a policy “champion” from within city government to foster the partnerships necessary for effective implementation and enforcement of the citywide ordinance. The third-prong of the toolkit, a community “hotspot” survey, will be conducted during the summer of 2015. This survey will utilize local knowledge in the identification of diesel truck idling hotspots. Several recommendations are offered including continuing community-based participatory research initiatives, maintaining and strengthening local, regional, and national partnerships, and increasing focus and efforts on policy analysis and advocacy. The ultimate goal of this practicum is to support the creation of a strategic plan utilizing a community-driven approach to equitably enforce the City of Detroit’s Anti-Idling Ordinance.