Sand, dust storms affect about 330 million people due to climate change: UN – Al Jazeera

Global Impact of Sand and Dust Storms on Sustainable Development

Introduction

A recent report from the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlights the severe and growing threat posed by sand and dust storms. These environmental phenomena, exacerbated by climate change and land degradation, are directly undermining progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The United Nations has responded by designating an International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms and declaring 2025–2034 as the UN Decade on the issue, signaling a commitment to addressing this challenge through global partnership, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Health and Well-being Under Threat (SDG 3)

Escalating Public Health Crisis

The impact of airborne particulates from sand and dust storms on human health is a critical concern, directly challenging the objectives of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Key health impacts include:

• Contribution to 7 million premature deaths annually.
• A primary trigger for acute respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
• Overburdened healthcare systems in affected regions, as seen with hospitals overwhelmed by respiratory cases in Iraq.

Widespread Exposure to Harmful Particulates

Data from the WMO and World Health Organization (WHO) reveals a sharp increase in population exposure. Between 2018 and 2022, an estimated 3.8 billion people—nearly half the global population—were exposed to dust levels exceeding WHO safety thresholds. This represents a significant increase from the 2.9 billion people affected between 2003 and 2007.

Economic and Agricultural Disruption Undermining Key SDGs

Economic Costs and Impacts on Growth (SDG 8)

The economic consequences of these storms are staggering, impeding SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The financial burden includes:

• An annual cost of $150 billion in the Middle East and North Africa, equivalent to 2.5% of the region’s GDP.
• Damages in the United States from dust and wind erosion totaling $154 billion in 2017.
• Severe disruption to critical infrastructure, including air and ground transport, and forced closures of schools and offices.

Threats to Food Security and Clean Energy (SDG 2 & SDG 7)

The storms pose a direct threat to fundamental resources, impacting progress on other vital SDGs.

1. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Crop yields are reduced by up to 25% in affected areas, exacerbating food insecurity and potentially causing hunger and migration.
2. SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): The efficiency of solar energy production is significantly reduced by atmospheric dust, hindering the transition to clean energy.

Environmental Drivers and Global Reach

Root Causes Linked to Climate and Land Degradation (SDG 13 & SDG 15)

The report identifies the primary drivers of increased storm frequency and intensity, linking them directly to environmental mismanagement and climate change.

• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Climate change is a key factor intensifying the conditions that lead to these storms.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): Widespread land degradation and unsustainable land management practices are major contributors to the 2 billion tonnes of dust emitted into the atmosphere annually.

Transcontinental Impact

While over 80% of global dust originates from deserts in North Africa and the Middle East, its effects are global. Particulates travel thousands of kilometers across continents and oceans, with dust from the Sahara Desert documented as far away as the Caribbean and the United States, demonstrating the interconnectedness of global ecosystems and the far-reaching consequences of localized environmental degradation.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Specific SDG Targets Identified

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  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 links sand and dust storms to health issues, stating they “harm the health and quality of life of millions of people.” It specifies that airborne particles from these storms contribute to “7 million premature deaths annually” and trigger “respiratory and cardiovascular disease.” The report also mentions that storms in Iraq “overwhelmed hospitals with respiratory cases.”

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  1. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
     • The article explicitly identifies climate change as a primary driver of sand and dust storms. Assembly President Philemon Yang is quoted saying, “They are driven by climate change, land degradation and unsustainable practices.” This highlights the need to build resilience against these climate-related hazards.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  1. Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
     • The article mentions that sand and dust storms are driven by “land degradation.” It also notes that “More than 80% of the world’s dust comes from the deserts in North Africa and the Middle East,” pointing directly to the issue of desertification as a source of the problem.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  1. Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production… and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
     • The article states that sand and dust storms “reduce crop yields by up to 25%, causing hunger and migration.” This directly connects the environmental issue to food security and agricultural productivity, which is the focus of this target.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  1. Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation.
     • The article emphasizes the “staggering” economic costs of these storms. It quantifies the impact, stating that in the Middle East and North Africa, it costs “$150bn, roughly 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP), annually.” It also mentions disruptions to “air and ground transport” and forced “school and office closures,” all of which negatively impact economic activity.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

• Health Indicators (related to SDG 3)

  • Number of premature deaths: The article explicitly states that airborne particles contribute to “7 million premature deaths annually.”
  • Population exposure to air pollution: It is reported that “3.8 billion people – nearly half the global population – exposed to dust levels exceeding WHO safety thresholds between 2018 and 2022.”
  • Incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular disease: The article mentions that storms trigger these diseases and that hospitals in Iraq were “overwhelmed with respiratory cases.”

• Environmental Indicators (related to SDG 15)

  • Volume of dust emissions: The article quantifies this by stating, “About 2 billion tonnes of dust are emitted yearly.” This serves as a direct measure of the scale of land degradation and desertification.

• Agricultural Indicators (related to SDG 2)

  • Reduction in crop yields: A specific figure is provided: storms “reduce crop yields by up to 25%.” This is a direct indicator of the impact on food production.

• Economic Indicators (related to SDG 8)

  • Economic cost as a percentage of GDP: The article notes the annual cost in the Middle East and North Africa is “$150bn, roughly 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP).”
  • Absolute economic damage: It is mentioned that for the United States, “dust and wind erosion caused $154bn in damage in 2017.”

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: aljazeera.com