Report on Community-Led Air Quality Monitoring and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Grassroots Environmental Action

This report analyzes grassroots initiatives within Latino communities across the United States focused on monitoring local air quality. These community-led efforts directly address significant environmental health disparities and align with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By collecting hyperlocal data, residents are advocating for policy changes that support:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Environmental Injustice and Public Health Crises (SDG 3 & SDG 10)

Health Impacts of Air Pollution

The primary driver for these initiatives is the severe health impact of air pollution on residents, a direct challenge to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The presence of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from industrial and traffic sources is linked to numerous health conditions.

• Respiratory diseases, particularly high rates of asthma in both children and adults.
• Cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders.
• Potential links to other serious illnesses, such as breast cancer, are an area of growing concern for residents.

Personal testimonies from communities in La Mirada, CA, Caldwell, ID, and the Bronx, NY, confirm a high prevalence of chronic respiratory issues, necessitating medical interventions like nebulizers and limiting physical activity.

Disproportionate Impact on Minority Communities

Data indicates a severe inequality in exposure to air pollution, directly contravening the objectives of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Historical housing policies and industrial zoning have placed vulnerable populations in closer proximity to pollution sources.

• Communities of color represent 50% of the US population living with toxic air pollutants, despite being only 41% of the total population.
• Latino individuals are nearly three times more likely than white individuals to reside in areas with poor air quality.
• This disparity persists regardless of income level or geographic region, highlighting a systemic issue of environmental injustice.

Citizen Science for Sustainable Communities (SDG 11 & SDG 17)

Addressing Data Gaps for Safer Cities

Community monitoring projects are crucial for achieving SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which calls for reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including air quality. Official government monitoring networks are often insufficient, with sensors located far from pollution hotspots in predominantly white, wealthier neighborhoods. Grassroots efforts address this by:

1. Installing hyperlocal air quality sensors (e.g., PurpleAir monitors) in residential areas, churches, and businesses.
2. Collecting real-time data on pollutants like PM2.5, providing a more accurate picture of community exposure.
3. Making data publicly available to inform residents and pressure government agencies for targeted regulatory enforcement.

The Role of Partnerships in Driving Change

The success of these initiatives relies on collaboration, embodying the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Non-profit organizations, community leaders, and academic institutions work together to empower residents.

• The Hispanic Access Foundation’s project, “El Aire Que Respiramos,” provides sensors and support to 12 communities with significant Latino populations.
• Organizations like the Environmental Health Coalition in San Diego and South Bronx Unite coordinate data collection and community advocacy.
• Academic partners, such as the University of Maryland, provide data analysis to validate and contextualize community findings.

Governance, Climate Action, and Institutional Barriers (SDG 13 & SDG 16)

Policy Rollbacks and Climate Interconnections

Progress toward environmental justice is threatened by institutional and policy challenges that undermine SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Recent administrative actions have weakened environmental protections for all Americans, with a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has moved to scrap pollution regulations and has cut hundreds of grants aimed at environmental justice and climate action.
• California rolled back a law designed to phase out diesel trucks at major ports, a significant source of PM2.5 pollution.
• Climate change exacerbates air quality issues through more intense and frequent wildfires and heatwaves, increasing PM2.5 levels and underscoring the need for integrated climate and pollution policies.

Challenges to Community Advocacy and Funding

Community organizations face direct opposition and funding instability, hindering their ability to advocate for accountable institutions as envisioned by SDG 16.

• Legislation, such as a 2024 Louisiana law, has been passed to ban community groups from publishing their own air pollution data.
• Critical EPA grants for community monitoring projects have been cut or rejected, creating financial uncertainty for organizations like the Environmental Health Coalition and preventing the expansion of successful models like that of the Hispanic Access Foundation.
• The EPA’s official position is that it supports monitoring, but its actions suggest a withdrawal of support for community-led data collection in areas with health disparities.

Conclusion: The Imperative for Continued Action

Citizen-led air quality monitoring in US Latino communities is a powerful tool for advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals. These initiatives provide critical data to protect public health (SDG 3), expose and combat systemic inequality (SDG 10), build more sustainable and resilient communities (SDG 11), and demand climate justice (SDG 13). However, their efforts are jeopardized by regulatory rollbacks and funding cuts that weaken institutional accountability (SDG 16). Sustained support for these grassroots projects is essential for ensuring that all communities have the right to clean air and a healthy environment.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article extensively discusses the negative health impacts of air pollution, which is a core concern of SDG 3. It explicitly mentions health conditions like asthma, respiratory diseases, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disease linked to pollutants. For instance, it notes Eileen Miranda’s son’s “childhood struggle with asthma” and that the communities being monitored have “asthma rates higher than the national average among adults.”
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article’s central theme is environmental injustice, highlighting how air pollution disproportionately affects specific demographic groups. This directly relates to SDG 10. It states that “communities of color are disproportionately affected” and that “Latinos are nearly three times more likely than white individuals to live in communities with poor air quality.” The grassroots efforts by these communities are a direct response to this inequality.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The issues described are rooted in urban and suburban environments. The article points to sources of pollution in cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bronx, including “congested streets,” “heavy-duty diesel trucks,” “industrial hub,” “freeway and a major rail yard.” This focus on urban air quality and its management is a key aspect of SDG 11.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article connects local air pollution to the broader issue of climate change. It mentions that levels of PM2.5, a key pollutant, are “worsened by heatwaves and wildfires, both of which are becoming more intense and widespread due to human-made global heating.” This establishes a direct link between the community’s immediate concerns and the global climate crisis addressed by SDG 13.
5. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article highlights the role of community activism, data collection, and advocacy in holding institutions accountable and promoting justice. The community-led project “El Aire Que Respiramos” aims to “advocate for change” and share data with “government agencies to inform where regulations and enforcement are needed.” This reflects the goal of building more responsive, inclusive, and just institutions. The discussion of EPA policy rollbacks and funding cuts also pertains to the strength and justice of governing institutions.

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

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 directly addresses this target by focusing on illnesses caused by air pollution. It details how residents suffer from conditions like asthma and potentially cancer, attributing them to exposure to harmful air pollutants such as “PM2.5 – particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers,” which comes from “car exhausts, coal-fired power plants and other industrial sources.”
2. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
   • This target is relevant because the article describes a clear inequality of outcome where Latino communities bear a disproportionate burden of air pollution. The community’s efforts to collect data and advocate for policy changes are actions aimed at reducing this inequality and promoting fairer environmental regulations and enforcement. The article notes a “legacy of housing policy and other factors” has led to these “racial-ethnic exposure disparities.”
3. 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 entire initiative described in the article is an effort to address this target. Citizens are installing sensors to monitor and understand the air quality in their cities and suburbs, which are negatively impacted by industrial facilities, freeways, and ports. Their goal is to use this data to push for regulations that would reduce the adverse environmental impact of their cities.
4. Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
   • The community-led projects are a form of capacity building and awareness-raising. The article describes how individuals like Aimee and Bryan Benitez “informed residents in English and Spanish about the latest air quality data… and how they can reduce exposure.” This educational effort, linking local air quality to broader climate issues like wildfires, directly contributes to this target.
5. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
   • The grassroots monitoring project is a prime example of participatory action. By collecting their own data, communities are creating a mechanism to participate in environmental governance and make it more responsive to their needs. The article states the goal is to share this local data “with government agencies to inform where regulations and enforcement are needed,” thereby influencing decision-making.

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

1. Indicator for Target 3.9 (and 11.6): Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
   • The article explicitly and repeatedly mentions the measurement of PM2.5 as the core activity of the community projects. It states, “everyday citizens and community leaders… gather data and track levels of harmful air pollutants, especially the type scientists call PM2.5.” The data collected by the “PurpleAir monitors” provides a direct, quantitative indicator of air pollution levels.
2. Indicator for Target 3.9: Prevalence of respiratory diseases.
   • The article implies this indicator by frequently referencing asthma. It notes that “all but one [of the monitored locations] have asthma rates higher than the national average among adults” and tells the stories of multiple individuals and their family members who suffer from asthma. Tracking the incidence and prevalence of such diseases in these communities would measure progress.
3. Indicator for Target 10.3: Disparities in pollution exposure by demographic group.
   • The article provides a baseline for this indicator by citing a study that found “people of color faced higher exposure to PM2.5 pollution” and that “Latinos are nearly three times more likely than white individuals to live in communities with poor air quality.” Measuring the reduction of this statistical disparity over time would indicate progress towards equality.
4. Indicator for Target 13.3 and 16.7: Level of community engagement and public access to environmental information.
   • The article implies this through its description of the community projects. The number of installed sensors (“65 air monitors… across the borough” in the Bronx), the number of community meetings held, and the number of residents informed are all measurable indicators of engagement. The public availability of the data collected by these sensors is an indicator of increased access to information.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theguardian.com