Report on the July 2025 Peruvian Dust Storm and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

On July 31, 2025, a significant meteorological event occurred along the coast of central and southern Peru, characterized by strong winds lofting large plumes of dust and sand. This event, observed by NASA and NOAA satellite assets, directly impacted urban areas, air quality, and public health, highlighting critical intersections with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report analyzes the event’s causes, impacts, and its relevance to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

2.0 Event Analysis and Observation

2.1 Meteorological Conditions

The dust event was triggered by strong regional winds, known locally as “Paracas winds,” which are common during the austral winter. On the day of the event, meteorological analysis indicated the following contributing factors:

• Wind speeds in the affected Ica region reached nearly 40 kilometers (25 miles) per hour, as reported by Senamhi, Peru’s national meteorological service.
• The primary cause was the interaction between an unusually strong South Pacific high-pressure front and a low-pressure system, which generated powerful downdrafts.
• These downdrafts lifted significant quantities of dust and sand from the coastal desert, transporting them inland.

The Andes mountain range acted as a natural barrier, preventing the long-range transport of dust across the continent and localizing the primary impact to the coastal region.

2.2 Satellite Monitoring and International Collaboration (SDG 17)

The monitoring of this event exemplifies the power of international partnerships and advanced technology, a core tenet of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Data was captured and synthesized from multiple international and national agencies.

1. NASA’s Aqua Satellite: The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument captured a key image at approximately 3 p.m. Peru Time, documenting the storm at its peak intensity. The satellite’s drifting orbit allowed for a later-in-the-day observation, which was crucial for capturing this late-afternoon phenomenon.
2. NOAA-20 Satellite: The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument provided an earlier image, which, when compared with the Aqua image, demonstrated the rapid inland progression of the dust plumes over a 70-minute period.
3. Senamhi (Peru): The national meteorological service provided essential ground-level data on wind speeds, corroborating satellite observations.

3.0 Impact Assessment and Linkages to Sustainable Development Goals

3.1 SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The dust storm had immediate and direct consequences for human settlements, underscoring challenges related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Urban centers, including the city of Ica, were engulfed by the dust.

• Air Quality Degradation (SDG 3): The plumes severely degraded air quality, posing a significant risk to respiratory health. Particulate matter from dust storms can cause or exacerbate conditions such as asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
• Urban Resilience (SDG 11): The event reduced visibility and disrupted daily life, testing the resilience of urban infrastructure and services. Making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable requires planning for and mitigating the impacts of such natural hazards.

3.2 SDG 13: Climate Action & SDG 15: Life on Land

This event is intrinsically linked to broader environmental and climate-related goals, specifically SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• Climate and Weather Extremes (SDG 13): While Paracas winds are a recurring phenomenon, their intensity can be influenced by larger climate patterns. Monitoring such extreme weather events is fundamental to climate change adaptation and strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards.
• Desertification and Land Degradation (SDG 15): The dust storm is a manifestation of desertification and land degradation processes in Peru’s coastal desert. Protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems, as outlined in SDG 15, is crucial for mitigating the frequency and intensity of such events by stabilizing soil and land cover.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

   The article discusses a dust storm in Peru, highlighting its causes, spread, and immediate environmental impacts. Based on this, the following SDGs are addressed:

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article explicitly mentions that the dust storm “degraded air quality,” which has direct implications for human respiratory health.
   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The dust storm is described as a natural hazard that “engulfed several urban areas, including Ica,” affecting the safety and environmental quality of these settlements.
   • SDG 13: Climate Action: The event is described as a meteorological phenomenon involving an “unusually strong South Pacific high-pressure front.” This connects to strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
   • SDG 15: Life on Land: The dust storm, originating from a “coastal desert area,” is a phenomenon directly related to land condition, soil stability, and desertification processes.

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

   Several specific targets can be linked to the issues described:

   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 statement that the dust storm “degraded air quality” directly relates to this target, as airborne dust particles are a form of air pollution that can cause illness.

   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters. The dust storm is a natural disaster that “engulfed several urban areas,” impacting the people living there.
   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality. The article highlights the negative environmental impact on cities like Ica through “degraded air quality” and “reduced visibility.”

   SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article describes an extreme weather event and mentions the involvement of “Senamhi, Peru’s national meteorological service,” which implies a national system for monitoring such hazards, a key component of building resilience.

   SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. The dust storm, which consists of “dust and sand particles” lofted from a “coastal desert area,” is a direct manifestation of land degradation and desertification.

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

   The article implies or directly mentions several means of measurement that align with official SDG indicators:

   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Implied Indicator for Target 3.9 (related to 3.9.1): While the article does not mention mortality rates, the description of “degraded air quality” due to “dust and sand particles” directly implies the presence of particulate matter (PM). The concentration of PM in the air is a key metric used to assess health risks from air pollution, aligning with the focus of Indicator 3.9.1 (Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution).

   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Implied Indicator for Target 11.6 (related to 11.6.2): The mention of “degraded air quality” in urban areas like Ica points directly to Indicator 11.6.2 (Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities). The “dust and sand particles” are a form of particulate matter.

   SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Implied Indicator for Target 13.1 (related to 13.1.3): The article’s reference to “Senamhi, Peru’s national meteorological service” monitoring the event and providing data on wind speeds implies the existence of a national disaster risk reduction strategy. This relates to Indicator 13.1.3 (Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies), as national meteorological services are crucial components of such strategies.

   SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Implied Indicator for Target 15.3 (related to 15.3.1): The article is centered on the use of satellite technology (MODIS and VIIRS) to observe and track the dust storm. This technology is the primary tool used for Indicator 15.3.1 (Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area). The article demonstrates how satellite data can monitor phenomena associated with land degradation.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: earthobservatory.nasa.gov