Ozone pollution continues to plague New Mexico – NM Political Report
Ozone pollution continues to plague New Mexico New Mexico Political Report
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Sustainable Development Goals and Air Pollution in New Mexico Counties
Introduction
Four out of the nine counties in New Mexico that were evaluated in the annual State of the Air report received failing marks for ozone pollution. The counties with failing grades were Bernalillo, Doña Ana, Eddy, and San Juan. The State of the Air report assesses ozone and particulate matter pollution in over 200 metropolitan statistical areas. This report is released annually by the American Lung Association, and it has been instrumental in highlighting the air quality challenges faced by different regions since its inception in 2000.
County Grades for Ozone Pollution
- Bernalillo County – Failing Grade
- Doña Ana County – Failing Grade
- Eddy County – Failing Grade
- San Juan County – Failing Grade
- Lea County – D Grade
- Sandoval County – D Grade
- Rio Arriba County – B Grade
- Santa Fe County – C Grade
- Valencia County – C Grade
County Grades for Particulate Matter Pollution
- Bernalillo County – Failing Grade
- Doña Ana County – Failing Grade
- Lea County – B Grade
- Santa Fe County – B Grade
- Taos County – B Grade
Regional Rankings
The El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces region ranked as the 15th worst in the country for ozone pollution, while the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Cruces region ranked as the 21st worst.
Impact of Climate Change
Ozone pollution tends to be worse in the western and southwestern regions of the United States. California has ten of the 25 most polluted metropolitan areas, and Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah have 12 others. Climate change exacerbates ozone pollution due to higher temperatures, arid conditions, sunny skies, and more frequent stagnation events. These factors contribute to an increase in the number of unhealthy ozone days.
According to the report, approximately 39 percent of Americans, or 131.2 million people, live in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. This number has been increasing in recent years, with 11.7 million more people breathing unhealthy air compared to the previous year’s report. Climate change-related factors such as extreme heat, droughts, and wildfires contribute to the increase in particulate matter pollution, particularly in the western United States.
Disparities in Air Pollution
Communities of color are disproportionately affected by unhealthy air pollution. The report found that although people of color make up 41.6 percent of the nation’s population, they represent 52 percent of the people living in counties with unhealthy air. Additionally, 63 percent of the 44 million residents in places with the worst air quality are people of color.
The State of the Air report highlights the urgent need to address air pollution and its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. By aligning efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and Goal 13 (Climate Action), stakeholders can work towards improving air quality and ensuring environmental justice for all.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Targets, and Indicators
- 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.
- Indicator: Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution (not explicitly mentioned in the article, but relevant to the issue of air pollution).
- 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.
- Indicator: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing (not explicitly mentioned in the article, but relevant to the issue of air quality in cities).
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
- Indicator: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population (not explicitly mentioned in the article, but relevant to the impact of climate change on air pollution).
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
- Indicator: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change (not explicitly mentioned in the article, but relevant to addressing the underlying causes of air pollution).
- Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
- Indicator: Forest area as a proportion of total land area (not explicitly mentioned in the article, but relevant to the conservation and restoration of ecosystems that contribute to air quality).
2. Specific Targets Identified
- Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
- 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.
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
- Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied
- Indicator: Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution (relevant to Target 3.9).
- Indicator: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing (relevant to Target 11.6).
- Indicator: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population (relevant to Target 13.1).
- Indicator: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change (relevant to Target 13.2).
- Indicator: Forest area as a proportion of total land area (relevant to Target 15.1).
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution |
| 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. | Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population |
| Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change | |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements. | Forest area as a proportion of total land area |
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Source: nmpoliticalreport.com
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