Report on Air Quality Improvement Initiatives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

An allocation of $10 million, sourced from the Climate Commitment Act, has been awarded to community-based organizations and municipalities. The funding is designated for targeted strategies to improve air quality and public health in overburdened communities across Washington. This initiative directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing environmental health, inequality, and climate action through collaborative, community-led projects.

Strategic Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The program’s framework and objectives demonstrate a significant commitment to the following SDGs:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: By focusing on the reduction of criteria air pollution, the initiative aims to mitigate health risks and improve public health outcomes in highly impacted communities.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The program specifically targets communities identified as overburdened, where historical, social, and economic disparities are compounded by environmental pollution, thereby addressing environmental justice and inequality.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Projects are designed to create cleaner, safer, and more sustainable living environments in both urban and rural areas.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: As a core tenet of the Climate Commitment Act, the reduction of air pollution contributes to broader climate action objectives.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initiative is founded on a collaborative model, engaging community groups, Tribal governments, and municipalities to develop and implement solutions.

Program Development and Implementation

The Air Quality Program developed this grant initiative through a holistic approach that integrates community health, environmental priorities, and regulatory authority. The development process was informed by extensive public and stakeholder involvement.

1. Stakeholder Engagement: Workshops and listening sessions were conducted with community-based organizations and Tribes to inform the grant program’s design.
2. Data-Driven Targeting: Overburdened communities were identified using data from Washington’s Environmental Health Disparities map, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the state’s air monitoring network. This ensured that funding was directed toward areas with the greatest need and potential for successful intervention.
3. Community-Led Project Design: The program allows for creative and localized strategies, recognizing that effective solutions vary by community. This approach empowers local organizations to design interventions tailored to their specific environmental challenges.

Funded Project Examples and Contributions to SDGs

Grantees are implementing a diverse range of projects to achieve the common goal of air pollution reduction. These projects contribute directly to SDG 3, SDG 11, and SDG 13.

• Promoting Sustainable Transport (SDG 11): A group in South King County is distributing bus passes and bicycles to reduce reliance on personal vehicles.
• Improving Public Health Infrastructure (SDG 3): The same group is distributing portable air cleaners to mitigate indoor air pollution.
• Reducing Particulate Matter (SDG 11): In Spokane Valley, dirt roads are being paved and sealed to reduce dust pollution.
• Transitioning to Clean Energy (SDG 13): Diesel-powered lawn equipment in public parks is being replaced with electric alternatives, and tool libraries are being stocked with electric tools.
• Waste Management and Pollution Prevention (SDG 11): Community programs are being established to chip yard waste as an alternative to open burning.

Future Directives and Continuous Improvement

The initiative represents one component of a broader strategy for air quality improvement. Ongoing and future work includes:

• Expansion of the state’s air monitoring network to enhance data collection.
• Consideration of more protective air quality standards for the identified communities.
• Publication of a biennial report to assess community needs and program effectiveness, with the next report scheduled for the end of 2025.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

The article addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on improving air quality, public health, and reducing environmental inequalities through community-based initiatives funded by the Climate Commitment Act. The following SDGs are relevant:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The core objective of the initiative is to “reduce pollution for the benefit of human health” and “improve public health,” directly aligning with the goal of ensuring healthy lives.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The program specifically targets “overburdened communities” where “historical, social, economic, and health disparities have been compounded by higher concentrations of criteria air pollution,” aiming to reduce these environmental and health inequalities.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article discusses improving environmental conditions in communities, both “urban and rural,” by implementing strategies to create cleaner air, which is a key aspect of making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The entire initiative is funded by the “Climate Commitment Act,” a state-level policy designed to combat climate change and its impacts. The actions taken, such as replacing diesel equipment, directly contribute to climate mitigation efforts.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The program’s success relies on collaboration between the government agency, “community-based organizations,” “municipalities,” and “Tribes.” The article highlights how the agency “developed relationships with community groups” to implement the grant program.

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

Based on the activities and goals described in the article, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

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.
   • Explanation: The article’s central theme is the effort to “reduce pollution and improve public health” by improving air quality. The entire grant program is designed to mitigate the health risks associated with air pollution in highly impacted communities.
2. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all…
   • Explanation: The program identifies and provides funding to “overburdened communities” suffering from compounded “historical, social, economic, and health disparities.” By involving these communities directly in creating solutions (“grant awards, created by communities specifically for the areas of concern”), the initiative empowers them and addresses systemic inequalities.
3. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality…
   • Explanation: The projects mentioned, such as “paving and sealing dirt roads,” “replacing diesel lawn equipment,” and chipping yard waste “instead of burning it,” are direct actions to reduce the local environmental impact and improve air quality within specific communities.
4. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • Explanation: The article is framed around the “Climate Commitment Act,” which is a state-level policy that integrates climate action into its environmental strategy. The grant program is a direct implementation of this policy, demonstrating the integration of climate measures into government planning and action.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…
   • Explanation: The article describes a partnership model where the government agency hosts “workshops and listening sessions” and works with “community-based organizations and Tribes” who “offered their expertise.” This collaborative approach is a clear example of a public-civil society partnership.

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

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to track progress:

1. Concentration of air pollutants:
   • Explanation: The article explicitly mentions “higher concentrations of criteria air pollution” as the problem and the work to “expand the air monitoring network.” This implies that a key indicator for Targets 3.9 and 11.6 is the measured level of air pollutants in the targeted areas. Progress would be a reduction in these concentrations.
2. Financial resources allocated:
   • Explanation: The article states that “$10 million from Climate Commitment Act funds” were awarded. This financial figure serves as a direct indicator for Targets 13.2 and 17.17, measuring the amount of funding mobilized and directed towards climate action and community partnerships.
3. Data from Environmental Health Disparities map:
   • Explanation: The use of “Washington’s Environmental Health Disparities map” to identify communities implies that the data and scores on this map can be used as an indicator for Target 10.2. Progress could be measured by a reduction in the disparity scores for the targeted communities over time.
4. Regular reporting on community needs:
   • Explanation: The commitment to “write a report every two years to understand the needs of these communities” serves as a process indicator for Targets 10.2 and 13.2. It demonstrates an ongoing mechanism for policy review and adaptation based on the needs of vulnerable populations.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ecology.wa.gov