Report on Chicago’s Air Quality Monitoring Network Initiative

Executive Summary

The City of Chicago has completed the installation of a city-wide air quality monitoring network, a significant municipal action that directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The deployment of 277 sensors across all 50 wards establishes the largest such network in the United States, providing a critical tool for advancing public health, environmental justice, and urban sustainability. Data from this network will be made publicly available, empowering communities and informing policy.

Project Overview and Objectives

The primary objective of this initiative is to generate granular, neighborhood-level data on air quality to guide public health interventions and environmental policy. This aligns with the core SDG principle of “leaving no one behind” by focusing on equitable data collection.

• Scope: 277 advanced pollution monitors have been installed on light poles throughout the city.
• Coverage: The network ensures comprehensive coverage, with at least one sensor located in each of the city’s 50 wards.
• Measured Pollutants: The sensors will measure levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and nitrogen dioxide, both of which are linked to significant adverse health effects.
• Data Transparency: The collected data is scheduled to be released to the public early next year, fostering community engagement and accountability.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This project makes substantial contributions to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by addressing interconnected environmental, social, and governance challenges.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The initiative directly targets SDG 3 by monitoring pollutants that severely impact respiratory systems. By identifying areas with poor air quality, the city can implement targeted policies to protect vulnerable populations, reduce diseases related to pollution, and prevent premature deaths.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

In line with SDG 11, the network aims to make Chicago safer, more resilient, and sustainable. It specifically addresses Target 11.6, which calls for reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality. The focus on industrial and high-traffic areas in West and South Side communities promotes environmental equity in urban planning.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The project strengthens institutional capacity for environmental governance, a key aspect of SDG 16. By responding to resident demands for better pollution monitoring and providing transparent access to data, the city is building more effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The successful deployment of the network exemplifies SDG 17. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the City of Chicago and the University of Illinois Chicago, demonstrating a powerful partnership between government and academia to achieve sustainability objectives.

Historical Context and Project Evolution

This city-led initiative is the third and most robust attempt to establish a large-scale pollution monitoring network in Chicago.

1. Array of Things: An initial academic-led project by Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago which concluded after several years.
2. Microsoft Network: A corporate project that installed over 100 sensors on bus shelters but was criticized for incomplete coverage and potential data inaccuracies before being discontinued.
3. Current Municipal Network: The first project led by the city itself, utilizing more advanced technology and a strategic partnership to ensure comprehensive, equitable, and long-term monitoring.

Global Benchmarking and Future Outlook

Chicago’s network positions it as a national leader in municipal air quality monitoring, part of a growing global trend.

• Chicago: 277 monitors
• Los Angeles (School District): Over 200 monitors
• London: Over 400 monitors

The data generated will be foundational for evidence-based policymaking. As stated by Charlie Catlett of Argonne National Laboratory, “You can’t make decisions without data.” This network provides the necessary data to protect community health and advance Chicago’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

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 connects air pollution to public health. It states that pollutants like PM 2.5 and nitrogen dioxide have a “severe effect on respiratory systems and can be particularly dangerous for people with asthma, lung disease and similar conditions, even leading to premature deaths.” The installation of monitors is aimed at informing policies for health protection.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The initiative is a city-led project in Chicago to manage a critical aspect of the urban environment—air quality. The article highlights the effort to create a safer, more sustainable urban space by addressing pollution, especially in the “most polluted areas of the city” such as the West and South Sides. This aligns with making cities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article emphasizes transparency and data-driven decision-making. The city’s commitment to “make data publicly available early next year” supports the goal of ensuring public access to information. This allows residents to be informed and enables the creation of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions that can use this data to “inform policies around health protections.”

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 measuring pollutants (PM 2.5, nitrogen dioxide) known to cause respiratory illnesses and “premature deaths” directly relates to this target. The data collected is intended to help create policies to mitigate these health risks.
• Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality…” The entire project described—installing 277 pollution monitors across Chicago to get a “detailed look at air quality”—is a direct action towards monitoring and ultimately reducing the adverse environmental impact of the city, specifically concerning air quality.
• Target 16.10: “Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.” The city’s explicit plan to “make data publicly available early next year” directly supports this target by empowering residents with information about their local environment.

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

• Indicator for Target 3.9 & 11.6: The article explicitly mentions the pollutants that will be measured: “a fine particle pollution, known as PM 2.5 as well as nitrogen dioxide.” The measurement of the annual mean levels of these pollutants is a direct indicator. This corresponds to the official SDG indicator 11.6.2, “Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities.” Progress can be measured by tracking the levels of these specific pollutants over time.
• Indicator for Target 16.10: The indicator is the establishment and accessibility of the public data system. The article states the city “will make data publicly available early next year.” The successful launch and continuous operation of a public portal providing this air quality data would serve as a clear indicator of progress towards this target.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: chicago.suntimes.com