Air Quality Report: Doha, Qatar – August 8, 2025

Executive Summary and SDG Implications

On August 8, 2025, the city of Doha, Qatar, recorded an air quality index that positioned it as the third most polluted major city globally. The primary pollutant, PM2.5, reached levels classified as “unhealthy.” This situation presents a significant challenge to public health and urban sustainability, directly impacting Qatar’s progress toward several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The “unhealthy” air quality poses immediate and severe health risks to the population, particularly to sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The persistent air pollution crisis undermines the goal of making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. It directly compromises the environmental quality and livability of Doha.

Analysis of Causal Factors and Relation to SDGs

The dangerously high concentration of PM2.5 in Doha is attributed to a combination of environmental, industrial, and urban factors. Each of these contributors is linked to specific challenges within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Natural and Environmental Factors: Frequent dust storms, intensified by regional desertification, are a primary source of airborne particulate matter. This directly relates to SDG 15 (Life on Land), which calls for halting and reversing land degradation and desertification.
2. Industrial and Energy Sector Emissions: The region’s extensive energy sector, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, oil refining, and petrochemical industries, is a major contributor to greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. This highlights a critical tension with:
   • SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Emphasizing the need to transition towards cleaner energy sources.
   • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): Calling for the promotion of sustainable industrialization and retrofitting industries to make them sustainable.
   • SDG 13 (Climate Action): As the CO2 emissions from these processes are a principal driver of climate change.
3. Urbanization and Transport: High vehicle density, heavy traffic, and widespread construction activities release significant amounts of PM2.5, PM10, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Meteorological conditions, such as temperatures exceeding 36°C, exacerbate the formation of ground-level ozone. This issue is central to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which advocates for sustainable transport systems and the reduction of the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities.

Public Health Advisories and Protective Measures

Health Impact and Official Alerts

While no evacuation orders have been issued, official health alerts are in effect. These advisories are a critical response to mitigate the public health crisis, in line with the objectives of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Residents, especially vulnerable individuals, are strongly advised to minimize exposure to outdoor air.

Recommended Actions for Public Safety

To safeguard health during this period of poor air quality, the following protective measures are recommended:

• Limit all non-essential outdoor activities, particularly during peak pollution hours and dust storm events.
• Sensitive groups should remain indoors in well-ventilated or air-purified environments.
• Utilize real-time air quality monitoring services and applications to stay informed of current conditions and forecasts.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article directly connects poor air quality in Doha to public health. It states that the “unhealthy” levels of PM2.5 pose “significant health risks, especially for sensitive groups like children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.” This establishes a clear link to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article’s entire focus is on the environmental conditions within a major urban center, Doha. By highlighting that Doha is the “third most polluted major city in the world,” it addresses the challenge of managing the environmental impact of cities, a core component of SDG 11.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article identifies causes of air pollution that are directly related to climate change. It mentions “desertification,” “high summer temperatures,” and “greenhouse gas emissions” from the energy sector, including “very high amount of CO2 emissions.” These factors link the local air quality issue to the broader global challenge of climate action.

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

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.
   • This target is relevant because the article emphasizes the health consequences of air pollution. The mention of “unhealthy” PM2.5 levels and the advice for sensitive groups to stay indoors directly relate to mitigating illnesses caused by air pollution.
2. 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.
   • This is the most direct target. The article’s central theme is the poor air quality in Doha, a major city. It details the “dangerously high PM2.5 concentrations” and their sources, which are key aspects of a city’s environmental impact that this target aims to reduce.
3. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • Although the article does not mention specific policies, it highlights the root causes that such policies would need to address. The contribution of the “energy sector” to “greenhouse gas emissions” and “CO2 emissions” points to the need for integrating climate considerations into industrial and energy planning, as called for by this target.

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

1. Indicator 11.6.2: Annual mean concentration of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted).
   • The article is centered on this indicator. It explicitly refers to PM2.5 concentrations being “unhealthy” and “dangerously high.” It also mentions other pollutants like PM10. The ranking of Doha as the “third most polluted major city” is a comparative use of this exact metric. The provision of real-time air quality data and maps further underscores the use of this indicator.
2. Indicator related to Target 3.9 (e.g., mortality rate attributed to air pollution).
   • This is implied. While the article does not provide statistics on deaths or illnesses, it strongly implies a negative health impact by describing the air as “unhealthy” and posing “significant health risks,” especially for those with “respiratory conditions.” Measuring the incidence of such conditions would be an indicator of progress.
3. Indicator related to Target 13.2 (e.g., Indicator 13.2.2: Total greenhouse gas emissions per year).
   • This is mentioned as a cause. The article states that the “energy sector…contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, with chemical processes accounting for very high amount of CO2 emissions.” Monitoring these emissions would be a direct way to measure progress in mitigating one of the key sources of the pollution problem.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: iqair.com