Persistent urban air pollution the focus of ‘unprecedented’ NASA, NOAA research
Persistent urban air pollution the focus of 'unprecedented' NASA ... Smart Cities Dive
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Dive Brief:
- To understand how air pollution sources have shifted in recent decades, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA, and 21 universities launched a multipronged research campaign examining North America’s largest cities.
- The research aims to provide state and local officials insight into why ground-level ozone and fine particulates have not significantly declined in recent years, despite tighter regulations and pollution control technologies.
- The campaign involves the use of satellites, research aircraft, vehicles, stationary installations, and even “instrumented backpacks” to monitor air quality.
Dive Insight:
Ground-level ozone and fine particulates contribute to more than 100,000 premature deaths in the U.S. each year. Despite declining emissions from vehicles and smokestacks, these types of pollution have not shown significant decreases in recent years.
Recent research suggests that consumer products derived from fossil fuels, such as paints, pesticides, cleaning products, lotions, and perfumes, may be contributing to these pollutants.
The research campaign also aims to understand the impact of wildfire smoke on air quality and will collect measurements over cities like New York City, Chicago, Toronto, and Los Angeles.
State and local environmental officials were involved in the planning stages of the research to ensure that the dataset answers questions relevant to them.
Overall, this research project seeks to improve our understanding of current sources of pollutants and their behavior in the atmosphere.
Other projects in the campaign include investigating air pollution in underserved neighborhoods in New York City and understanding downwind air pollution from New York City to southern New England.
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. | Not mentioned in the article. |
| 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. | Indicators not mentioned in the article. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | Not mentioned in the article. |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- 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 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- No indicators are mentioned or implied in the article.
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: smartcitiesdive.com
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