Can climate stripes change the way we think about air pollution?

A New Visualization of Global Air Pollution Contrasts

A team of scientists have created a new way to visualize the contrasts in air pollution breathed around the globe. The results show huge inequalities in the quality of air, with the situation worsening in many countries.

But the new project also tells a positive story: that focused action by governments can lead to cleaner air.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
2. Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
3. Goal 13: Climate Action

Inspired by Ed Hawkins’ climate stripes, the new air quality stripes show air pollution from 1850 to today. Each year is a separate vertical bar that is colored according to the amount of particle pollution. Air that meets World Health Organization guidelines is coded as sky blue. Shades of yellows, browns, and black represent higher pollution in a color scheme that reflects more than 200 images of smog from around the world.

Dr. Kirsty Pringle, of the University of Edinburgh, who co-directed the project, said: “Air pollution is often called the invisible killer but these images make the invisible visible, showing the changes over the decades.”

Generating Your Own Air Pollution Stripes

• Visit the website to generate your own air pollution stripes for large cities.

Dr. Jim McQuaid, of the University of Leeds, another co-director of the project, said: “To me, it’s all about that lightbulb moment when someone understands it; that sudden ‘oh yeah, now I get it’.”

The stripes for London and Beijing show the huge improvements that can result when action is taken.

London’s Transformation

1. Coal-induced smogs plagued London for more than a century.
2. A week-long smog in 1952 resulted in 12,000 deaths.
3. Clean air acts followed, replacing coal with heating oil and then fossil gas.

Beijing’s Progress

1. Beijing’s deteriorating air was largely unnoticed until the 2008 Olympics.
2. Air pollution deaths in China had reached over 2 million a year.
3. A recent clean-up of industry and traffic has yielded rapid initial results.

Challenges in Developing Nations

• Jakarta and Islamabad represent the trajectories of many developing nations with rapid urbanization and industrial growth without accompanying air pollution controls.

Data Sources and Methodology

• Data for the stripes came from the UK Met Office’s global climate models with adjustments from satellite observations.
• Predictions are made for each degree of longitude and latitude.

The Global Air Pollution Crisis

More than 99% of the world’s population still breathe air that does not meet World Health Organization guidelines. Even after the improvements seen in Europe, particle pollution still leads to more than 400,000 early deaths annually; for the UK it is between 29,000 and 43,000.

Prof Ed Hawkins, of the University of Reading, who created the climate stripes, said: “By making abstract data tangible, we can all play a part in solving some of the world’s biggest problems. Many major cities worldwide are still struggling with dirty air, but air quality is improving in other places. These are clear demonstrations that critical global issues can be solved with enough political will.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

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

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

The article discusses air pollution and its impact on human health, the progress made in improving air quality in certain cities, and the need for global action to address this issue. These topics are directly related to SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Additionally, the article mentions specific cities and their experiences with air pollution, highlighting the importance of sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11). Finally, the article references the climate stripes, which were created by the same scientist who developed the climate stripes to raise awareness about climate change, connecting the issue of air pollution to SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

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

• SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
• SDG 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.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

The targets identified are directly related to the issues discussed in the article. SDG 3.9 focuses on reducing deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution, which is a major concern highlighted in the article. SDG 11.6 emphasizes the need to improve air quality in cities, which is a key aspect of addressing air pollution. SDG 13.2 highlights the importance of integrating climate change measures into policies and planning, as air pollution is closely linked to climate change.

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

• Number of deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution
• Per capita environmental impact of cities, including air quality
• Integration of climate change measures into national policies and planning

While the article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, the identified targets can be measured using indicators such as the number of deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution, the per capita environmental impact of cities (including air quality), and the extent to which climate change measures are integrated into national policies and planning.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theguardian.com