Report on Global Air Quality and its Intersection with the Sustainable Development Goals

The Global Air Quality Crisis: A Threat to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

A recent World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Air Quality and Climate Bulletin reports a continuing worldwide degradation of air quality, posing a significant threat to the achievement of SDG 3. Air pollution is a transboundary issue that remains a major public health concern.

• Despite regional improvements, very few cities globally meet the air quality standards recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Household air pollution is identified as one of the world’s greatest public health threats, with a particularly harmful impact on children.
• Conversely, successful policy implementation demonstrates significant health benefits. The Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution is credited with saving an estimated 600,000 lives annually and adding a full year to life expectancy in Europe, directly advancing SDG 3 targets.

Climate Change and Air Pollution: A Dual Challenge for SDG 13 and SDG 15

The report underscores the inextricable link between air quality and climate change, emphasizing that they must be tackled in unison to protect planetary health and achieve related SDGs. This connection presents a complex challenge for SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

1. Wildfires and SDG 15: As a result of climate change, wildfire seasons are becoming stronger and longer. Record-breaking seasons in regions like the Iberian Peninsula, Canada, South America, and Siberia contribute to massive emissions of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), degrading ecosystems and threatening life on land.
2. Ground-Level Ozone and SDG 13: While emission controls have reduced some primary pollutants, ground-level ozone, a key component of smog, has not declined. This is partly a consequence of global warming, as its formation requires sunlight, creating a feedback loop that complicates climate action.
3. Transboundary Impact: Pollution from wildfires travels across continents, demonstrating that isolated national efforts are insufficient. This global impact necessitates a coordinated approach to both climate and air quality governance.

Policy in Action: Progress Towards SDG 7 and SDG 11

Despite the overall negative trend, the report highlights successful interventions that contribute to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

• Sustainable Cities (SDG 11): Targeted measures in Eastern China, including the expansion of parks and the adoption of electric vehicles in cities like Shanghai, have led to a measurable reduction in emissions and improved urban air quality.
• Clean Energy (SDG 7): The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) notes that cleaner cooking technology is plentiful and effective in saving lives by reducing household air pollution. The primary challenge is scaling up the distribution of this technology to vulnerable populations.
• Effective Regulation: Reductions in emissions in Europe and Eastern China confirm that when regions implement measures to combat poor air quality, tangible progress can be achieved.

International Cooperation as a Catalyst for Change: The Importance of SDG 17

The report emphasizes that international cooperation, a cornerstone of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), is fundamental to addressing the global air pollution crisis.

1. The Air Convention: The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) supports the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution, an international agreement uniting 51 countries with legally binding emissions limits. This serves as a successful science-policy model for regional cooperation.
2. Knowledge Sharing: The success of the Air Convention is inspiring other regions, particularly in Asia and South America, to learn from its framework, facilitated by initiatives like the Forum for International Cooperation on Air Pollution.
3. Standardization: The UNECE plays a crucial role in agreeing upon international norms for vehicle emission measurements and cleaner fuels, promoting a unified global strategy.
4. Multi-Agency Collaboration: The findings draw on data and expertise from the WMO, WHO, UNEP, and UNECE, showcasing the power of partnerships among international bodies to monitor and address complex global challenges.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article directly links air pollution to public health, stating it is a “significant public health concern” and that reducing pollution saves lives, as evidenced by the Air Convention saving “some 600,000 lives annually.”
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article discusses household air pollution and the need for “cleaner cooking technology,” which is a core component of providing access to clean energy for all.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The focus on urban air quality is prominent. The article mentions that “very few cities worldwide have air quality levels below those recommended” and highlights positive examples like Shanghai improving air quality by “opening more parks and planting more trees” and using electric vehicles.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly states the interconnectedness of climate change and air quality, noting that “Climate change and air quality cannot be addressed in isolation.” It also attributes the increasing strength and length of wildfire seasons to climate change.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article discusses the widespread impact of wildfires in regions like the Iberian Peninsula, Chile, Canada, and Siberia. These wildfires are a direct threat to forests and ecosystems on land.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article emphasizes international cooperation as a key solution, highlighting the “Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution” which brings together 51 countries, and the “Forum for International Cooperation on Air Pollution.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• 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 focus on air pollution as a “public health threat” and the mention of the Air Convention saving 600,000 lives annually directly align with this target.
• Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services. This is addressed through the discussion on tackling “household air pollution” with “cleaner cooking technology” and the challenge to “get this technology into the hands of more people.”
• Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality. The article’s discussion of urban air quality, the success of cities like Shanghai in reducing pollution, and the mention of pollutants like PM 2.5 and ground-level ozone are directly related to this target.
• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The statement that “Climate change and air quality…must be tackled together” supports the integration of these issues into policy, as exemplified by the intergovernmental Air Convention.
• Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally. The article’s concern over “record-breaking” wildfire seasons, which degrade forests, connects to the goal of protecting and sustainably managing forest ecosystems.
• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development. The article provides a clear example of this target through the “Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution,” an international agreement where countries work together to set legally binding emissions limits and share science-policy models.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 3.9.1 / 11.6.2 (Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution / Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5) in cities): The article explicitly mentions “fine particle markers known as ‘PM 2.5′” as a key measure of pollution from wildfires. It also notes that few cities meet WHO recommendations for air quality levels, implying that these levels are a key indicator. The statistic of “600,000 lives annually” saved by the Air Convention is a direct measure of mortality reduction.
• Indicator 7.1.2 (Proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology): This indicator is implied when the article discusses the challenge to “get this technology [cleaner cooking] into the hands of more people.” Measuring the success of this effort would involve tracking the proportion of the population that has adopted such technologies.
• Indicator 15.1.1 (Forest area as a proportion of total land area): While not explicitly stated, the article’s focus on “record-breaking” wildfire seasons implies a concern for the degradation and loss of forest ecosystems. The extent and frequency of wildfires serve as a proxy indicator for the health and stability of forests.
• Indicator 17.16.1 (Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks): The existence and operation of the “Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution” with its 51 member countries serves as a qualitative indicator of a successful multi-stakeholder partnership for a specific sustainable development issue (air quality).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.un.org