Report on the Chicago Air Quality Crisis and its Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

An air quality alert has been issued for the Chicago metropolitan area due to significant smoke pollution originating from Canadian wildfires. Air quality levels have reached the “Unhealthy” category, posing considerable risks to public health and highlighting critical challenges to achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Air Quality Status and Health Implications: A Challenge to SDG 3

The severe degradation in air quality directly threatens the health and well-being of the population, a core tenet of SDG 3. The presence of high concentrations of pollutants constitutes a major environmental health hazard.

Current Air Quality Index (AQI)

• As of Friday morning, the AirNow government monitoring service reported Chicago’s air quality within the “Unhealthy” category, corresponding to level four on the six-level Air Quality Index.
• The concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was recorded at 157. Any value exceeding 150 is classified as “Unhealthy” for the general public.
• At one point, the city of Chicago was ranked by IQAir as having the worst air quality globally, underscoring the severity of the pollution event.

Public Health Advisories and Vulnerable Populations

In line with SDG Target 3.9, which aims to reduce illnesses and deaths from air pollution, authorities have issued public health warnings:

1. The general public is advised to limit time spent outdoors.
2. Specific emphasis is placed on protecting vulnerable groups, including:
   • Older adults
   • Young children
   • Individuals with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions

Environmental Factors and Urban Impact: A Setback for SDG 11 and SDG 13

This event demonstrates the vulnerability of urban centers to transboundary environmental crises, impacting the goal of creating safe, resilient, and sustainable cities (SDG 11). The root cause is linked to climate-related phenomena, which falls under the purview of SDG 13.

Meteorological Cause

The immediate cause of the poor air quality is smoke from Canadian wildfires being transported southward. A high-pressure weather system over the region is causing the air to sink, trapping the smoke and pollutants at the surface level and preventing their dispersal.

Implications for Sustainable Cities (SDG 11)

The incident compromises SDG Target 11.6, which calls for reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, with a special focus on air quality. The widespread pollution disrupts daily life, affects large public gatherings such as the Lollapalooza festival, and challenges the city’s capacity to ensure a healthy environment for its residents.

Broader Context: Wildfires, Climate Action (SDG 13), and Life on Land (SDG 15)

The air quality crisis in Chicago is a symptom of larger environmental issues that are central to the global sustainability agenda.

Link to Canadian Wildfires

The source of the pollution—unprecedented wildfires in Canada—highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of such events, which are often exacerbated by climate change. This connects the local air quality issue directly to the global need for urgent climate action as mandated by SDG 13.

Connection to Global Environmental Goals

This event serves as a critical reminder of the interconnectedness of the SDGs. The degradation of forests (related to SDG 15, Life on Land) due to wildfires has direct, cross-border consequences on human health (SDG 3) and the sustainability of urban environments (SDG 11).

Technical Definitions and Monitoring

The Air Quality Index (AQI) Explained

The AQI is a standardized index used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to report on daily air quality. It provides a framework for understanding the health risks associated with different levels of air pollution.

• Levels above 100: Considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
• Levels above 150: Considered “Unhealthy” for the entire population.

Understanding Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

The primary pollutant of concern in this event is PM2.5, which refers to fine inhalable particulate matter with diameters of 2.5 micrometers or smaller.

• Source: PM2.5 particles originate from various sources, including smoke from fires.
• Health Risk: Due to their small size, these particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems. This pollutant is regulated under the Clean Air Act as a major threat to public health.

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 Chicago’s poor air quality due to wildfire smoke touches upon several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary issues of air pollution, public health, urban environmental quality, and the underlying cause of wildfires establish these connections.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is directly addressed through the article’s focus on the health impacts of poor air quality. The text explicitly mentions that the air is “unhealthy,” posing risks to the public, especially “older adults, young children and those with respiratory problems.” This highlights the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article is centered on the environmental conditions within a major urban area, Chicago. It discusses the city’s air quality being ranked the “worst in the world” and the implementation of an “air quality alert for the entire Chicago area.” This directly relates to the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, with a particular focus on urban environmental quality.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The source of the air pollution is identified as “smoke from Canada wildfires.” While the article does not explicitly discuss climate change, large-scale wildfires are widely recognized as a climate-related hazard, often exacerbated by changing climate patterns. This connects the issue to the need for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, including strengthening resilience to natural disasters.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The wildfires causing the smoke are a direct threat to terrestrial ecosystems. The “wildfires burning in Canada” represent a significant degradation of forests, which are crucial for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and overall ecosystem health. This links the article’s core problem to the goal of protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss.

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

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be 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 entire premise is built around the health risks of air pollution. It describes the air as “unhealthy” and notes that it poses “issues to the general public.” The advice for everyone to “limit time outdoors” and the specific mention of vulnerable groups directly align with the objective of reducing illnesses caused by air pollution.

2. 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.

   The focus on Chicago’s air quality, its ranking as the “worst in the world,” and the detailed discussion of the Air Quality Index (AQI) directly address this target. The article is a case study of a city grappling with a severe air quality problem, which is a key component of its overall environmental impact.

3. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

   The event described—a major city being severely impacted by smoke from distant wildfires—is an example of a climate-related hazard. The issuance of an “air quality alert” and public advisories are forms of adaptation and response to this hazard, connecting the situation to the need for increased resilience.

4. Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

   The root cause of the problem, “wildfires burning in Canada,” represents a failure to protect forest ecosystems. While the target date was 2020, the ongoing nature of such events underscores the continued relevance of this goal, which aims to prevent the degradation and loss of forests.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article explicitly mentions several indicators used to measure air quality, which can be used to track progress towards the identified targets.

• Indicator: Annual mean concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

  This is a direct indicator for both Target 3.9 and Target 11.6. The article specifically defines PM2.5 as “fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller” and provides a concrete measurement: “Friday morning, Chicago’s air quality showed a PM 2.5 of 157.” This quantitative data is used to assess the level of air pollution.

• Indicator: Air Quality Index (AQI).

  The article heavily relies on the AQI as a primary indicator to communicate the severity of the pollution. It explains that the AQI is “used by the Environmental Protection Agency to communicate to the public air quality levels.” It provides specific levels, such as Chicago’s air being in the “unhealthy” category, which “ranks as level four of six on the Air Quality Index.” This index serves as a composite indicator of air pollution that is easily understood by the public.

• Indicator: Frequency and extent of natural disasters (wildfires).

  While not quantified in the article, the “smoke from Canada wildfires” is the event itself. The occurrence of such large-scale wildfires is an implied indicator for Target 13.1 (climate-related hazards) and Target 15.2 (forest degradation). Tracking the frequency, size, and impact of these fires would be a way to measure progress (or lack thereof) in these areas.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nbcchicago.com