During heat waves, trees spew chemicals that worsen air pollution – Science News Explores

Environmental Integrity and the Sustainable Development Goals

Report on Atmospheric Pollutants, Climate, and Mitigation Strategies

This report outlines key environmental concepts and their direct relevance to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning health, climate action, and sustainable communities.

1. Climate and Atmospheric Science in the Context of SDG 13: Climate Action

Understanding the Earth’s climate system is fundamental to addressing SDG 13. This involves analyzing long-term weather conditions and the significant, lasting shifts defined as climate change, which are often driven by human activities.

1.1. Core Concepts

• Climate: The long-term weather conditions typical of an area.
• Climate Change: A significant, long-term alteration in Earth’s climate, frequently resulting from human actions such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
• Meteorology: The scientific study of weather, which provides the data necessary for understanding and projecting climate trends.

1.2. Anthropogenic Drivers

The combustion of hydrocarbons is a primary driver of climate change and air pollution.

1. Combustion: The process of burning, which releases energy and byproducts.
2. Hydrocarbon: Molecules of carbon and hydrogen, such as those found in fossil fuels. The combustion of these fuels releases pollutants.
3. Exhaust: Waste gases and fine particles emitted from combustion processes, contributing to atmospheric pollution and climate change.

1.3. Predictive Tools

To formulate effective strategies for SDG 13, scientists rely on advanced simulations.

• Computer Model: A program that simulates real-world phenomena, such as climate systems, to predict future outcomes and assess the impact of different policies.

2. Air Pollution and its Impact on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)

Air quality is a critical component of public health and urban sustainability. The presence of pollutants in the atmosphere poses direct threats to human well-being, a core concern of SDG 3.

2.1. Major Air Pollutants

A pollutant is any substance that contaminates the environment. Many are toxic, meaning they are poisonous and can harm or kill living organisms.

• Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): A group of pollutants formed during the combustion of fossil fuels. They are a result of a chemical reaction between nitrogen and oxygen.
• Ozone: At ground level, this gas is a major pollutant, a key component of smog, and an irritant to the eyes and lungs.
• Particles: Minute amounts of matter, including nanoparticles (measured in billionths of a meter), that can be inhaled and cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
• Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs): Carbon-containing chemicals that easily evaporate and can be harmful when inhaled. They are released from both natural sources like vegetation and man-made products.

2.2. Global Health Oversight

International cooperation is essential for managing global health risks associated with pollution.

• World Health Organization (WHO): A UN agency that provides global leadership on health matters, including setting standards for pollutants to protect public health in line with SDG 3.

3. Strategies for a Sustainable Future: Aligning with SDG 7, SDG 11, and SDG 12

Achieving the SDGs requires a multi-faceted strategy that incorporates green technologies, sustainable urban planning, and responsible production and consumption patterns.

3.1. Technological and Green Solutions

Innovation is key to mitigating environmental damage and promoting sustainability.

• Green: An adjective describing products and processes designed to pose minimal harm to the environment, supporting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
• Solar: Relating to the sun, this term often refers to a clean and renewable energy source, directly contributing to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
• Filter: A device that removes particles from air or water. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are a specific type capable of removing a vast majority of airborne pollutants, improving indoor air quality as part of SDG 11.

3.2. Sustainable Urban Development

The design of our cities and communities has a profound impact on environmental health.

• Vegetation: The collective plant life in an area. Increasing urban vegetation can help filter air pollutants, reduce heat, and improve well-being, contributing to SDG 11.
• Concrete: A common building material whose production is energy-intensive. Developing sustainable alternatives is a key strategy for building greener cities.

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

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article defines numerous terms directly related to health and environmental pollutants that affect it. Terms such as pollutant, toxic, ozone (as a ground-level pollutant that “irritates eyes and lungs”), nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic chemicals all describe substances that can cause illness and death. The inclusion of the World Health Organization, which sets standards for pollutants and works to control communicable diseases, further strengthens this connection.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The glossary addresses issues central to urban environments. Air pollution, a major challenge for cities, is highlighted through definitions of exhaust, nitrogen oxides (formed when fossil fuels are burned), and ozone (“a major ingredient of smog”). These pollutants are often concentrated in cities due to traffic and industrial activity, impacting the environmental quality of urban life.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The article directly defines climate change as a “long-term, significant change in the climate of Earth” resulting from human activities like “the burning of fossil fuels and clearing of forests.” Other related terms like combustion, exhaust, and nitrogen oxides (pollutants from burning fossil fuels) are all central to the causes and understanding of climate change, making this goal highly relevant.

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

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• 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 defining various air pollutants like nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, particles, and volatile organic chemicals directly relates to the hazardous substances mentioned in this target.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 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. The glossary’s detailed definitions of key components of urban air pollution, such as exhaust gases and ozone (smog), align perfectly with the goal of improving urban air quality.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article provides the foundational vocabulary for this action by defining climate change, its causes (burning of fossil fuels), and the tools used for analysis, such as computer models and meteorology. Understanding these terms is the first step in creating effective strategies.

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

Implied Indicators for SDG 3 and SDG 11

• The article does not explicitly state official SDG indicators. However, it strongly implies the measurement of air quality as an indicator. The definitions of pollutant, particle, nanoparticle, nitrogen oxides, and ozone all refer to specific substances that can be quantified in the atmosphere. Therefore, an implied indicator is the annual mean concentration of specific pollutants (such as particulate matter, NOx, and O3) in the air, which is used to measure progress towards reducing illnesses from air pollution (Target 3.9) and improving urban air quality (Target 11.6).

Implied Indicators for SDG 13

• For climate action, the article implies indicators related to the monitoring and modeling of climate phenomena. The definitions of climate change, meteorology, and computer model suggest that progress is measured by tracking long-term atmospheric and weather trends. An implied indicator would be the measurement of greenhouse gas concentrations (such as nitrogen oxides) and the use of scientific models to predict climate outcomes, which are fundamental to assessing the effectiveness of climate policies.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: snexplores.org