Report on the Public Health and Sustainable Development Implications of Air Pollution from the US Oil and Gas Industry

Executive Summary

A recent study published in Science Advances reveals the severe public health consequences of air pollution originating from the entire lifecycle of the US oil and gas industry. The findings indicate a substantial negative impact on several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The report analyzes the health burdens, highlights the disproportionate impact on minority communities, and contextualizes the findings within the global pursuit of sustainable development.

Health Impacts and Contradiction to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The study provides a comprehensive assessment of the health hazards associated with pollutants from the oil and gas sector, directly challenging the objectives of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. The reliance on these fossil fuels undermines Target 3.9, which seeks to substantially reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous air pollution.

Key Health Burdens Attributed to Oil and Gas Pollution

• Premature Deaths: An estimated 91,000 cases annually.
• Adverse Birth Outcomes: Approximately 10,350 preterm births per year.
• Childhood Asthma: An estimated 216,000 new cases of childhood-onset asthma annually.
• Cancer Cases: Approximately 1,610 new cases each year.

Lifecycle Analysis

This is the first study to quantify the health hazards across all stages of the oil and gas lifecycle, including:

1. Exploration and extraction
2. Storage and transmission
3. Alteration processes (e.g., refining)
4. End-use consumption and distribution

The analysis is based on 2017 emissions data. However, between 2017 and 2023, US oil and gas production increased by 40%, suggesting that the current health burden may be even greater, further distancing the nation from achieving its SDG 3 targets.

Environmental Injustice and Setbacks for SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The report highlights a severe disparity in the distribution of health impacts, which directly conflicts with SDG 10, aimed at reducing inequality within and among countries. The findings demonstrate that the negative externalities of the oil and gas industry are not shared equally, violating the principle of ensuring equal opportunity and reducing inequalities of outcome (Target 10.3).

Disproportionately Affected Communities

• Hispanic and Native American Communities: Experience heightened exposure from exploration, extraction, transportation, and storage activities.
• Asian and Black Communities: Bear a disproportionate burden from emissions related to alteration processes, manufacturing, and consumption, particularly in industrial hotspots like Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley” and eastern Texas.

This unequal exposure reinforces existing social and economic vulnerabilities, creating significant barriers to achieving the inclusive societies envisioned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Energy Policy and Implications for SDGs 7 and 13

The continued dominance of oil and gas in the US energy portfolio presents a major obstacle to achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). As the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas, the US industry’s emissions contribute significantly to both local air pollution and global greenhouse gas concentrations.

Challenges to Sustainable Energy Transition

• Fossil Fuel Dependency: The increasing production and consumption of oil and gas run counter to SDG Target 7.2, which calls for a substantial increase in the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• Climate Change Drivers: The emissions from these fossil fuels are the primary drivers of global warming, undermining global efforts under SDG 13 to combat climate change and its impacts.

Global Air Quality and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The issue of air pollution extends beyond the US, representing a global crisis that threatens the viability of SDG 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Poor air quality is a direct threat to Target 11.6, which focuses on reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including air quality.

Global and Regulatory Context

• Global Health Crisis: Air pollution is the second leading risk factor for death globally, with an estimated 7 million deaths attributed to PM2.5 exposure annually.
• WHO Guidelines: In 2023, only seven countries met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) stringent air quality guidelines for PM2.5 (annual average of 5 µg/m³). This highlights a near-universal failure to provide healthy living environments.
• Pollutant of Concern: PM2.5, fine particulate matter, is identified as the pollutant posing the greatest risk to human health, linked to a range of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Achieving sustainable urban development requires decisive action to mitigate air pollution from sources like the oil and gas industry to ensure clean air and a high quality of life for all residents.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article directly addresses this goal by detailing the severe health consequences of air pollution from the oil and gas industry. It explicitly states that this pollution is linked to “91,000 premature deaths, 10,350 preterm births and 216,000 childhood-onset asthma and 1,610 cancer cases every year” in the US.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• This goal is highlighted in the section “Communities of Color Bear the Brunt,” which explains that the negative health impacts are not felt equally. The article specifies that “Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities experience the worst exposures and burdens,” pointing to a clear case of environmental injustice and inequality.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article connects to this goal by discussing the high health burden from air pollution in states with major urban populations, such as “California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.” It focuses on pollutants like PM2.5, which are key indicators of urban air quality and a major environmental challenge for cities.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The article establishes a link to climate action by stating that oil, natural gas, and coal “are the single-largest source of global greenhouse gas emissions, the primary drivers of global warming.” This connects the issue of air pollution from fossil fuels directly to the broader crisis of climate change.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
   • The article’s central theme is the quantification of deaths and illnesses (premature deaths, asthma, cancer) resulting directly from air pollutants like PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone, which are generated by the oil and gas industry.
2. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • The article links air pollution to non-communicable diseases such as cancer and respiratory conditions like asthma, which contribute to the “91,000 premature deaths” mentioned.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
   • The article provides evidence of environmental inequality, where minority communities are disproportionately affected. It notes that “Hispanics and African-Americans in the US breathe in 63% and 56% more health-harming pollution than they respectively produce,” highlighting a lack of inclusion in environmental safety and health.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • The article’s focus on air pollutants (PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, ozone) and their concentration in populous states directly relates to this target’s emphasis on improving urban air quality.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Mortality rate attributed to ambient air pollution (Indicator 3.9.1):
   • The article provides specific data points for this indicator, stating there are “91,000 premature deaths” annually in the US from oil and gas pollution and “approximately 7 million deaths” globally from PM2.5.
2. Morbidity rates from air pollution:
   • The article implies indicators related to illness by providing annual figures for specific health conditions: “10,350 preterm births,” “216,000 childhood-onset asthma,” and “1,610 cancer cases.”

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) (Indicator 11.6.2):
   • The article heavily features PM2.5 as a key pollutant, noting it is the “most commonly used unit in air quality measurements.” It also provides the WHO’s recommended annual threshold of 5 µg/m³ as a benchmark for measuring air quality.
2. Levels of other air pollutants:
   • The article mentions other key pollutants like “nitrogen dioxide” and “ozone” and includes a table with the WHO’s recommended air quality guidelines for them, which can serve as indicators.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Disaggregated data on pollution exposure by race/ethnicity:
   • The article provides data that can be used as an indicator of inequality, such as the finding that “Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities experience the worst exposures” and that specific groups breathe in significantly more pollution than they produce.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: earth.org