Report on Air Quality Degradation in New Hampshire and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

An air quality alert was issued for coastal regions of New Hampshire, including Rockingham County, due to high heat and humidity. This event marks the ninth air quality action day of the year, a significant increase from the five recorded in the entirety of the previous year. This report analyzes the current situation, its causes, and its direct correlation with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the urgent need for policy intervention to protect public health and environmental integrity.

Current Air Quality Status and Key Findings

Recent data indicates a notable decline in air quality within New Hampshire and the broader New England region. The American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” report, covering the period from 2021 to 2023, identified the most significant nationwide spike in air pollution in 16 years.

• Increased Alert Frequency: The number of air quality action days in New Hampshire has nearly doubled compared to the previous year.
• Geographic Vulnerability: Coastal areas are disproportionately affected as sea breezes trap ground-level ozone formed over the ocean.
• County-Level Data: Of the seven New Hampshire counties that monitor air quality, five recorded at least one unhealthy day for ozone, and five recorded one or more unhealthy days for particle pollution.

Causal Factors of Air Pollution

The degradation in air quality is attributed to two primary pollutants, with their formation linked to specific environmental conditions.

1. Ground-Level Ozone: According to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, ozone is a summertime pollutant that forms through chemical reactions requiring warm temperatures and sunny skies.
2. Particulate Matter: Researchers have linked the increase in particle pollution to wildfires. The fine particulate matter from these fires can travel long distances and penetrate deep into the respiratory system.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The deteriorating air quality in New Hampshire directly impacts the progress toward several key Sustainable Development Goals.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The rise in unhealthy air days due to ozone and particulate matter poses a direct threat to public health, particularly respiratory health. This trend undermines the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Air quality is a critical indicator of a safe, resilient, and sustainable community. The alerts in populated areas like Rockingham County demonstrate a challenge to this goal, impacting the quality of life for residents.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The report explicitly connects poor air quality to climate-related phenomena such as high heat and wildfires. This underscores the necessity of urgent climate action to mitigate the root causes of these environmental hazards.

Conclusion and Policy Recommendations

Experts, including Lance Boucher of the American Lung Association, have stated that without decisive action, air quality will continue to worsen. There is a critical need for robust policies at both state and federal levels to address this challenge. The primary recommendation is the promotion and implementation of policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting air quality. Addressing these environmental issues is fundamental to achieving public health objectives and fulfilling commitments to global sustainability frameworks like the SDGs.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article directly addresses public health by discussing “air quality alerts” and the health risks associated with air pollution. The involvement of the American Lung Association and the mention that particulate matter can “settle deep into the lungs” explicitly link poor air quality to health and well-being.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The issue is localized to “parts of New Hampshire” and “Rockingham County,” highlighting an environmental challenge within a specific community. The goal of making human settlements safe and sustainable includes managing air quality, which is the central theme of the article.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • The article connects the air quality issue to climate-related factors such as “high heat and humidity” and “wildfires.” Furthermore, it includes a direct call to action to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” which is a core component of climate action.

Specific SDG Targets 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.

   • The article’s focus on “unhealthy particle pollution days and ozone days” directly relates to this target. The issuance of air quality alerts is a measure to prevent illnesses caused by air pollution (ozone and particulate matter).

2. 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 a failure to maintain good air quality in a specific region of New Hampshire. The “State of the Air” report showing that air quality “has worsened” points directly to the challenge of reducing the adverse environmental impact related to air quality in communities.

3. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

   • This target is explicitly referenced in the call to action by Lance Boucher of the American Lung Association: “we need to make sure that policies are promoted in Congress and in the states that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the air quality in our state.” This statement advocates for integrating climate change mitigation (reducing emissions) into state and national policy.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Proxy indicators for Target 3.9 and 11.6

   • The article provides several specific data points that can be used as indicators to measure air pollution levels. While not official UN indicators, they serve the same purpose.
     • Number of Air Quality Action Days: The article states this is the “ninth air quality action day this year, up from a total of five all of last year,” providing a clear metric of increasing pollution events.
     • Frequency of Unhealthy Air Days: Data from the American Lung Association report is cited: “Five of the seven [counties] had at least one unhealthy day of ozone, and five of the seven had one unhealthy day or more for particle pollution.” This measures the prevalence of poor air quality.
     • Long-term Pollution Trends: The “State of the Air” report found the “highest nationwide spike in the last 16 years,” indicating a negative trend in air quality.

2. Indicator for Target 13.2

   • The article implies an indicator for this target through the call for policy action. The indicator would be the existence and implementation of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The statement, “we need to make sure that policies are promoted,” suggests that such policies are either lacking or insufficient, and their promotion and adoption would be a measure of progress.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wmur.com