Report on Air Quality Degradation in Michigan due to Transboundary Wildfire Smoke

Executive Summary

This report details the significant impact of smoke from Canadian wildfires on air quality across the state of Michigan as of August 2. The event has led to widespread hazy conditions and the issuance of Air Quality Advisories, posing considerable health risks and highlighting challenges related to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The situation underscores the interconnectedness of environmental health, public well-being, and climate action on a regional and international scale.

Impact Analysis and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The ongoing air quality crisis in Michigan directly intersects with several key SDGs, demonstrating the multifaceted consequences of environmental degradation.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The primary concern is the immediate threat to public health. The influx of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke has resulted in unhealthy air quality levels, particularly for vulnerable populations.

• An Air Quality Advisory is in effect, with authorities recommending the avoidance of strenuous outdoor activities.
• Sensitive groups, including individuals with diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or other respiratory illnesses, face heightened risks.
• The Greater Lansing area registered a PM2.5 level of 51 on the Air Quality Index (AQI), a level considered moderate for the general public but potentially harmful for these sensitive groups.
• Health officials advise monitoring for symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The event challenges the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Poor air quality compromises the safety and livability of communities across Michigan.

• The worst air quality, rated as “unhealthy for all,” is concentrated in the Upper Peninsula and northern regions of the state.
• Persistent smoke, expected to last through the weekend, disrupts daily life and affects the habitability of urban and rural areas.

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

The source of the pollution—unprecedented wildfires in Canada—is a stark indicator of the impacts of climate change and terrestrial ecosystem degradation.

• The wildfires represent a significant loss of forest ecosystems, directly impacting SDG 15 (Life on Land). As of the latest report, Canada has 59 uncontrolled active fires.
• The increasing frequency and intensity of such wildfires are linked to climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive strategies under SDG 13 (Climate Action) to mitigate global warming and its consequences.

Current Status and Monitoring

Air Quality Readings

As of 11:00 a.m., August 2, air quality varied across the state:

1. Upper Peninsula & Northern Michigan: Unhealthy for all individuals.
2. Lower Peninsula (including Greater Lansing): Moderate, with an AQI of 51 for PM2.5. Levels of 150 and above are considered unhealthy for everyone.

Public Resources for Air Quality Monitoring

Several resources are available for residents to monitor local conditions and receive alerts:

• MiAir Quality Index Dashboard: An interactive map from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) providing statewide AQI scores.
• AirNow: A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) platform for checking local conditions by ZIP code.
• AccuWeather: Provides a local AQI feature detailing current pollutants.
• EnviroFlash: An alert subscription system offered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Technical Definitions

The Air Quality Index (AQI)

The AQI is a standardized index used to report daily air quality. It focuses on health effects one might experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. The AQI accounts for five major air pollutants:

• Ground-level ozone
• Particle pollution (PM2.5 and PM10)
• Carbon monoxide
• Sulfur dioxide
• Nitrogen dioxide

Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

PM2.5 refers to fine inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller. These particles, found in smoke and haze, are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, posing significant health risks.

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

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article extensively discusses the negative health impacts of poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke. It mentions that the air is “unhealthy” and particularly harmful for “sensitive groups — residents with diabetes, heart disease, asthma or other respiratory illnesses.” It also lists symptoms to monitor, such as “wheezing, coughing, chest tightness,” directly linking air pollution to human health and well-being.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The focus of the article is on the air quality within populated areas of Michigan, including the “Upper Peninsula,” “northern Michigan,” and the “Greater Lansing area.” The problem of air pollution is framed as a direct environmental issue affecting communities and cities, which relates to the goal of making human settlements safe, resilient, and sustainable.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The article identifies “Canadian wildfire smoke” as the source of the problem. Large-scale and intense wildfires are recognized as a climate-related hazard. The cross-border nature of the smoke impact highlights the need for resilience and adaptive capacity to such natural disasters, which is a core component of climate action.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The root cause of the air pollution is the wildfires in Canada. The article notes there are “59 uncontrolled active fires.” These fires represent a significant degradation of terrestrial ecosystems, specifically forests. This directly connects to the goal of protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halting land degradation.

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 entire focus is on the health risks and illnesses caused by air pollution from wildfire smoke, specifically mentioning “unhealthy air quality” and its effects on people with respiratory diseases.
• Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. The article details the public advisories (“Air Quality Advisory”), monitoring tools (MiAir, AirNow), and public health recommendations (“avoid strenuous outdoor activities”) being issued, which are all measures for early warning and health risk management.

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. The article is centered on measuring and reporting the poor air quality in Michigan’s cities and regions, directly addressing this target.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The wildfires are a natural disaster, and the response described in the article—monitoring air quality, issuing public warnings, and providing information—demonstrates an effort to build adaptive capacity to the impacts of this hazard.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. The article mentions “59 uncontrolled active fires” in Canada, which are a direct cause of large-scale land degradation, connecting the issue to this target.

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

Indicators for SDG 3 and SDG 11

• Indicator 3.9.1 / 11.6.2: The article explicitly and repeatedly mentions the key indicator for measuring air pollution: the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). It states, “the Greater Lansing area is seeing 51 PM 2.5” and explains that “This unit is used to measure the fine particulate matter in the air.” The Air Quality Index (AQI), which is based on PM2.5 and other pollutants, is also heavily featured as a measurement tool.

Indicators for SDG 13

• Implied Indicator for 13.1: While not a formal UN indicator, the article implies the existence of disaster risk reduction strategies. The presence and use of public warning systems like “EnviroFlash,” state-run monitoring dashboards like the “MiAir Quality Index Dashboard,” and advisories from the “National Weather Service” serve as practical indicators of a functioning early warning and response system.

Indicators for SDG 15

• Implied Indicator for 15.3: The article provides a direct metric related to land degradation: the “number of uncontrolled active fires.” The report of “59 uncontrolled active fires” serves as a proxy indicator for the extent of ongoing land degradation due to wildfires.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: lansingstatejournal.com