Summer air quality ‘will not be as catastrophic as 2023,’ state meteorologist says • Minnesota Reformer
Summer air quality 'will not be as catastrophic as 2023,' state meteorologist says • Minnesota Reformer Minnesota Reformer
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Air Quality Forecast in Minnesota
Air quality in Minnesota this year is expected to be slightly worse than average but still better than last year’s record-breaking numbers, according to the latest forecast from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Improvement from Last Year’s Catastrophic Levels
“We have increasing confidence that the season will not be as catastrophic as 2023,” MPCA meteorologist Matt Taraldsen said at a press briefing on Thursday.
Canadian wildfires were responsible for many of the air quality alerts issued in 2023, Taraldsen said, and so far this year’s season is off to a much quieter start.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Climate Action
- Life Below Water
- Life on Land
- Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Good Health and Well-being
Impact on Air Quality Alerts
MPCA issues an air quality alert when levels of fine particles or ozone reach the Environmental Protection Agency’s orange level, meaning the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Last year MPCA put out 22 such alerts covering 52 calendar days.
This year the agency expects to issue from two to four ozone alerts and between five and seven fine particle alerts for wildfire smoke.
Regulations and Thresholds
The EPA recently tightened federal regulations governing annual averages of fine particle pollution. It also slightly adjusted several thresholds of the color-coded air quality index used to track real-time exposure, reflecting the latest science on the harm caused by air pollution.
Neither change will result in differences to how MPCA alerts the public about air quality issues, Taraldsen said. Minnesota’s annual pollution levels are already lower than what the new standard allows, and the air quality index changes don’t affect the threshold MPCA uses to determine when to issue alerts.
Impact of Heat and Poor Air Quality
But the agency will be paying special attention to how heat and poor air quality influence each other. Ozone levels are worse on hotter days, for instance, and some research suggests that the health effects of fine particle pollution are more pronounced when the temperature is high.
Threats to Minnesota’s Way of Life
At the briefing MPCA Commissioner Katrina Kessler emphasized the role of climate change both as a contributor to bad air in Minnesota, and as a threat to the way of life in the state. “The identity of Minnesota — our homes, our lakes, our rivers, our cold weather traditions, and our sunny vibrant summers — are at stake,” she said.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 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 air quality alerts issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency – Levels of fine particles or ozone reaching the Environmental Protection Agency’s orange level |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries | – Impact of climate change on air quality in Minnesota – Relationship between heat and poor air quality |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 13: Climate Action
The article discusses the air quality in Minnesota and its impact on health, connecting it to SDG 3 which focuses on promoting good health and well-being. It also highlights the role of climate change in contributing to bad air quality, linking it to SDG 13 which aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
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 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
The article indirectly addresses Target 3.9 by discussing the air quality alerts issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the impact of fine particles or ozone reaching unhealthy levels. It also touches on Target 13.1 by emphasizing the role of climate change in influencing air quality and its potential threats to the way of life in Minnesota.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of air quality alerts issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Levels of fine particles or ozone reaching the Environmental Protection Agency’s orange level
- Impact of climate change on air quality in Minnesota
- Relationship between heat and poor air quality
The article mentions the number of air quality alerts issued by the MPCA, which can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards Target 3.9. Additionally, the levels of fine particles or ozone reaching the Environmental Protection Agency’s orange level serve as indicators of air pollution. The impact of climate change on air quality and the relationship between heat and poor air quality can also be considered as indicators to measure progress towards Target 13.1.
4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 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 air quality alerts issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency – Levels of fine particles or ozone reaching the Environmental Protection Agency’s orange level |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries | – Impact of climate change on air quality in Minnesota – Relationship between heat and poor air quality |
Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.
Fuente: minnesotareformer.com
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