Pacific Northwest Air Quality Alert – IQAir

Air Quality Report: Pacific Northwest and Sustainable Development Goal Implications

1.0 Air Quality Status as of October 31, 2025

On October 31, 2025, at 8:05 AM PT, air quality in the Pacific Northwest region reached levels categorized as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” This degradation in air quality presents a direct challenge to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by posing risks to vulnerable populations. Furthermore, specific monitoring stations in Orofino, Idaho, and Granite Falls, Washington, recorded “unhealthy” air quality levels, impacting the broader community and undermining progress towards SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which aims to ensure safe and healthy living environments.

2.0 Geographically Affected Areas

The compromised air quality affects multiple urban and rural communities across several states and provinces. This widespread impact underscores the regional challenge to maintaining healthy environments as outlined in SDG 3 and SDG 11. The following locations are experiencing poor air quality:

• Agassiz, British Columbia
• Albany, Oregon
• Alta, Montana
• Crescent, Oregon
• Inchelium, Washington
• Moscow, Idaho
• Moses Lake, Washington
• Richland, Washington
• Sandpoint, Idaho
• Spokane, Washington

3.0 Causal Factors and Link to Sustainable Development Goals

The primary drivers of the poor air quality are multifaceted, involving both natural and anthropogenic factors that are closely linked to climate and land management challenges, reflecting the interconnectedness of SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

3.1 Wildfires and Prescribed Burns

Smoke from numerous active fires is the principal contributor to air pollution. While many of these fires are mostly contained, their residual smoke continues to degrade regional air quality. This situation highlights the urgent need for sustainable forest management practices under SDG 15 to mitigate wildfire risk. Active fires include:

• Lower Sugarloaf, Labor Mountain, and Wildcat fires in Washington
• Bear Gulch fire on the Olympic peninsula
• Emigrant and Moon Complex fires in Oregon

3.2 Climatic and Meteorological Conditions

The prevalence of wildfires is exacerbated by underlying environmental conditions. Extreme and exceptional drought conditions in Washington and Idaho, respectively, create an environment conducive to fire ignition and spread. These drought conditions are symptomatic of broader climate patterns, directly relating to the call for urgent action in SDG 13 (Climate Action). Additionally, seasonal temperature inversions trap pollutants at the surface level, further concentrating harmful particulate matter and hindering progress on public health goals (SDG 3).

4.0 Conclusion: Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The air quality event in the Pacific Northwest demonstrates a critical intersection of environmental health, climate change, and sustainable land management. The situation directly impedes progress on several key Sustainable Development Goals:

1. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Degraded air quality poses immediate health risks, particularly to sensitive groups, increasing respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
2. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The event reduces the safety and livability of numerous communities, making them less sustainable and resilient to environmental hazards.
3. SDG 13 (Climate Action): The underlying causes, such as increased drought and wildfire frequency, are linked to climate change, emphasizing the need for robust climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.
4. SDG 15 (Life on Land): The event underscores the challenges in managing terrestrial ecosystems sustainably, particularly in the face of climate-induced stressors like wildfires and drought.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

The article on air quality in the Pacific Northwest connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that address health, urban living conditions, climate change impacts, and terrestrial ecosystems.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The core issue of the article is poor air quality, which is described as being in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and “unhealthy” range. This directly relates to human health and well-being, as exposure to air pollution is a significant health risk.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article explicitly names multiple cities and communities across several states and a province (e.g., Spokane, Washington; Albany, Oregon; Agassiz, British Columbia) that are experiencing poor air quality. This highlights the challenge of maintaining a safe and healthy urban environment.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article identifies “extreme drought in the central and eastern areas of Washington State and exceptional drought in Idaho” as a contributing factor to the numerous large fires. Drought and increased wildfire activity are recognized as climate-related hazards, linking the air quality issue to broader climate patterns.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The direct causes of the poor air quality are cited as “active, small, prescribed fires” and “mostly controlled wildfires.” These events, exacerbated by drought, directly impact forests and terrestrial ecosystems, which falls under the purview of SDG 15.

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

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific SDG targets are relevant:

• 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” air quality caused by smoke and pollutants directly aligns with the goal of reducing illness from air pollution.
• Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality…” The article’s entire premise is the measurement and reporting of poor air quality in numerous cities, making this target highly relevant.
• Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The wildfires and extreme drought mentioned in the article are climate-related natural disasters. The resulting air quality crisis demonstrates the impact of these hazards on the region’s population and environment.
• Target 15.3: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods…” The article’s mention of “extreme drought” and “exceptional drought” as a cause for the fires points directly to the challenges of land degradation and drought addressed in this target.

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 the use of several indicators for measuring progress, even if it does not state the official indicator codes or quantitative data.

• Implied Indicator for Target 3.9 & 11.6 (related to Indicator 11.6.2: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5) in cities): The article refers to “air quality monitoring stations” and uses descriptive categories like “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and “unhealthy.” These categories are derived from real-time measurements of air pollutants, such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is the basis for this official indicator. The article provides a qualitative snapshot of the data used for this indicator.
• Implied Indicator for Target 13.1: The article describes the consequences of natural disasters (wildfires, drought). While it doesn’t provide statistics on affected populations or economic loss (which are official indicators), the very documentation of these “active” and “mostly contained but still active fires” and their widespread impact on regional air quality serves as a qualitative report on the occurrence and effects of climate-related hazards.
• Implied Indicator for Target 15.3 (related to Indicator 15.3.1: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area): The article’s statement that the region “has experienced numerous large fires in part due to extreme drought… and exceptional drought” serves as evidence of land degradation. The existence of “exceptional drought” is a direct measure used in assessing land degradation and is a key data point for this indicator.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: iqair.com