Choctaw Nation is Providing the Tools to Help Residents Monitor Outdoor Air Quality – Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Report on Choctaw Nation’s Air Quality Initiatives and Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Environmental Protection Service (CNO EPS) has implemented two key initiatives to enhance public access to air quality information. These programs provide critical environmental data to residents, directly supporting the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Program Overview and SDG Alignment

The initiatives are designed to empower the community with the knowledge to mitigate health risks associated with poor air quality, a critical step toward creating healthier and more sustainable living environments.

Real-Time Air Quality Dashboard

In a strategic partnership with JustAir, CNO EPS has launched a real-time air quality dashboard for the Choctaw Nation reservation. This tool is instrumental in advancing key SDG targets.

• Functionality: The dashboard allows residents to view daily, location-specific air quality conditions and receive alerts directly on their mobile devices.
• Contribution to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): By providing accessible, real-time data, the dashboard empowers individuals to take preventative measures, reducing exposure to air pollution and supporting the goal of ensuring healthy lives for all.
• Contribution to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): This initiative enhances the community’s capacity for environmental monitoring and management, contributing to the creation of safe, resilient, and sustainable communities.

Air Quality Flag Program

An Air Quality Flag Program has been instituted at all Choctaw Nation Head Start locations. This program uses a visual system to communicate daily air quality levels to educators, parents, and children.

• Functionality: Staff raise a colored flag each morning corresponding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI), providing an immediate visual indicator of air pollution levels.
• Contribution to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The program specifically protects the health of children, who are among the most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.
• Contribution to SDG 4 (Quality Education): It serves as a practical educational tool, integrating environmental health awareness into the daily routine of early childhood education centers and promoting knowledge for sustainable development.

Public Health Impact and SDG Targets

The programs address the significant public health threat posed by air pollution, which the American Lung Association notes affects one in three people in the United States. By focusing on vulnerable populations, these initiatives directly support SDG Target 3.9, which aims to reduce illnesses and deaths from air pollution.

Vulnerable Populations Identified

1. People with heart or lung disease
2. Children and older adults
3. Individuals active outdoors
4. Outdoor workers

Operational Framework: The Air Quality Index (AQI)

Both initiatives utilize the EPA’s color-coded AQI system to ensure clear communication of health risks.

• Green: Good
• Yellow: Moderate
• Orange: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
• Red: Unhealthy
• Purple: Very Unhealthy
• Maroon: Hazardous

Recommended Actions for Public Health Protection

To further the goal of ensuring good health and well-being (SDG 3), CNO EPS advises the public to take specific protective actions on days when air quality is rated Orange or higher.

• Reduce the amount of time spent outdoors.
• Avoid strenuous outdoor activities to limit inhalation of pollutants.
• Consider wearing a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask for enhanced filtration.
• Maintain clean indoor air by closing windows and doors and using air conditioning on a recirculate setting or operating a HEPA air purifier.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

   The article on the Choctaw Nation’s air quality initiatives addresses and connects to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The primary focus of the article is on protecting human health from the adverse effects of air pollution. It explicitly states that “one in three people in the U.S. will breathe in unhealthy air that can impact their health” and that the new programs empower the community to “take proactive steps to safeguard their health.” The article also identifies vulnerable groups, including children, older adults, and people with existing health conditions.
   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The initiatives are community-based and aim to improve environmental quality within the Choctaw Nation reservation. By providing tools for monitoring air quality, the program directly addresses the environmental health and sustainability of the community’s living spaces.
   • SDG 4: Quality Education: The “Air Quality Flag Program” installed at all Choctaw Nation Head Start locations is an educational tool. It is “designed to help educators, parents, and community members easily understand daily air pollution levels,” thereby promoting environmental health literacy and awareness from a young age.

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

   Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • 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 directly supports this target by providing tools that enable residents to “reduce exposure to unhealthy air” and avoid activities that could lead to health problems caused by air pollution.
   • Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality…” The entire initiative, including the “real-time air quality dashboard” and the flag program, is centered on paying special attention to and managing the community’s exposure to local air quality.
   • Target 4.7: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development…” The Air Quality Flag Program serves as a practical tool for environmental education at Head Start centers, providing learners (children, staff, and parents) with the knowledge to understand environmental conditions and take appropriate action.

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

   Yes, the article mentions and implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   • Air Quality Index (AQI): The article explicitly states that the programs “utilize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) to indicate air quality.” The AQI itself, with its specific values and corresponding color-coded levels (Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, Maroon), serves as a direct, quantifiable indicator of ambient air pollution.
   • Real-time Air Quality Data: The “real-time air quality dashboard” provides continuous data on air quality conditions. This data stream is an indicator that can be tracked over time to monitor trends and the frequency of unhealthy air days within the Choctaw Nation reservation.
   • Implementation of the Air Quality Flag Program: The number of Head Start locations where the flag program is installed and actively used is a qualitative and quantitative indicator of the reach of the educational initiative. The daily raising of the flags serves as a consistent measure of communicating air quality information to the community.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.9: Reduce illnesses from air pollution.	Daily and real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. Frequency of alerts for unhealthy air quality (Orange, Red, Purple, Maroon).
   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, paying special attention to air quality.	Availability and use of the real-time air quality dashboard by residents. Data on local air quality conditions across the Choctaw Nation reservation.
   SDG 4: Quality Education	Target 4.7: Ensure learners acquire knowledge and skills for sustainable development.	Implementation of the Air Quality Flag Program across all Choctaw Nation Head Start locations. Daily communication of air quality levels to educators, parents, and children.

Source: choctawnation.com