Report on Air Quality Advisory in New York State and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals
Executive Summary
On August 5, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Health issued an air quality health advisory for a majority of the state. The advisory, prompted by fine particulate matter from Canadian wildfires, highlights significant challenges to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The air quality was rated as “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” necessitating public health precautions and underscoring the transboundary nature of environmental health risks.
Public Health Impact and Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The primary impact of the air quality event is on public health, directly corresponding to the objectives of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Target 3.9 specifically calls for a substantial reduction in illnesses and deaths from air pollution.
Advisory Details and Health Risks
- Issuing Bodies: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health.
- Cause: Transboundary smoke and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) originating from wildfires in Canada.
- Health Effects: Exposure can cause short-term irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as coughing and shortness of breath.
- Exacerbation of Existing Conditions: The pollutants can worsen pre-existing conditions such as asthma and heart disease, posing a direct threat to community health goals.
Vulnerable Populations
The advisory emphasizes the disproportionate impact on specific demographics, a key consideration for ensuring equitable health outcomes under SDG 3.
- Children
- The elderly
- Individuals with pre-existing respiratory and heart conditions
Environmental Context and Broader SDG Implications
This event illustrates the interconnectedness of environmental stability, climate action, and urban sustainability, touching upon multiple SDGs beyond public health.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The advisory affects major urban and metropolitan areas, including Central New York, the Hudson Valley, and the New York City metro area. This directly challenges the aim of SDG 11.6 to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities by improving air quality. The presence of smoke and haze degrades the urban environment and poses a risk to the well-being of city dwellers.
SDG 13: Climate Action & SDG 15: Life on Land
The root cause of the pollution—intensified wildfires—is linked to climate change, highlighting the urgency of SDG 13 (Climate Action). These events demonstrate the increasing frequency of climate-related hazards. Furthermore, the wildfires point to challenges in managing terrestrial ecosystems sustainably, a core tenet of SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Official Recommendations and Affected Regions
Protective Measures for Public Health
To mitigate health risks in line with SDG 3, the following actions were recommended for the duration of the advisory:
- Individuals, especially those in sensitive groups, should limit strenuous outdoor activity.
- Staying indoors can reduce exposure, provided indoor air quality is maintained.
Geographic Scope of the Advisory
The advisory’s broad scope underscores the widespread nature of the environmental challenge, impacting nearly the entire state:
- Central New York
- Western New York
- Adirondacks
- Eastern Lake Ontario
- Upper and Lower Hudson Valley
- New York City Metropolitan Area
Technical Analysis
Air Quality Index (AQI)
An advisory is issued when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecast to exceed a value of 100. This value signifies air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Higher AQI values indicate a greater health risk for the general population.
Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
The pollutant of concern is fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which consists of airborne particles 2.5 microns or less in diameter. These particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Common sources include combustion processes from fires, vehicle exhaust, and power plants.
Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- The article is fundamentally about public health. It details an “air quality health advisory” issued due to pollution. It explicitly states that the air is “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and that the pollution can “exacerbate existing health conditions, such as asthma and heart disease.” The advisory is aimed at protecting the well-being of the population, particularly vulnerable groups like “children, the elderly and people with respiratory and heart problems.”
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- The issue of air quality is a key component of a sustainable urban environment. The article discusses the impact of air pollution on large populated areas, including “Central New York,” the “Upper and Lower Hudson Valley, and the New York City metropolitan area.” This directly relates to making cities and human settlements safe, resilient, and sustainable by managing environmental quality.
SDG 13: Climate Action
- The article identifies the source of the pollution as “wildfires in Canada.” Large-scale wildfires are a well-documented climate-related hazard, often intensified by climate change. The state’s response, by issuing a health advisory, represents an action to “strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards,” which is a core component of SDG 13.
SDG 15: Life on Land
- The root cause of the air quality issue is “wildfires in Canada.” These fires represent a significant degradation of terrestrial ecosystems, specifically forests. This connects directly to the goal of protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halting land degradation.
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.” The article directly addresses illnesses resulting from air pollution. It mentions that “fine particulate matter at the levels predicted can irritate the eyes, nose and throat” and cause “coughing; sneezing; runny nose; and shortness of breath.” The entire purpose of the health advisory is to mitigate these health impacts.
Target 11.6
- “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality…” The article’s focus is entirely on the management of and public response to poor air quality affecting New York’s communities. The issuance of an advisory for areas including the “New York City metropolitan area” is a direct action related to paying special attention to air quality.
Target 13.1
- “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The wildfire is a climate-related hazard with transboundary effects. The system described in the article, where “DEC meteorologists predict levels of…fine particulate matter” and then the state “issues an air quality health advisory,” is a clear example of a mechanism to strengthen resilience and help the population adapt to the hazard’s impacts.
Target 15.3
- “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil…and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.” The article identifies the source of the problem as “wildfires in Canada.” Wildfires are a major cause of land and forest degradation. While the article focuses on the effects rather than the cause, it points to a large-scale land degradation event that this target aims to prevent and combat.
Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Indicator 11.6.2: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities
- The article explicitly discusses the pollutant being measured. It states the advisory is due to “fine particulate matter” and defines it as “solid particles or liquid droplets in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter,” which is the definition of PM2.5. It also mentions the “Air Quality Index (AQI),” which is the tool used to communicate the level of this pollutant to the public. The state issues an advisory when the AQI value is expected to “exceed…100,” providing a specific measurement threshold.
Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution
- This indicator is implied. The article does not provide mortality statistics, but it highlights the significant health risks that contribute to morbidity and mortality from air pollution. It notes that high levels of particulate matter can make “medical conditions, such as asthma and heart disease, worse” and identifies “people with heart or breathing problems” as being most at risk. These are the very conditions that lead to deaths attributed to air pollution.
Implied Indicator for Target 13.1: Existence of early warning and disaster risk reduction strategies
- The article describes a functioning early warning system. The process where “DEC meteorologists predict levels of…fine particulate matter” and then the “state issues an air quality health advisory” is a direct example of a disaster risk reduction strategy in action. The article also points to a public resource to “see daily air quality forecasts for all regions in New York,” which is part of this information dissemination and warning system.
Implied Indicator for Target 15.3: Data on the extent of land degradation
- The article implies the existence of data to measure land degradation from the wildfires. It provides a link to an “Observer-Dispatch database” for a “map showing wildfires in the United States and Canada as well as data on those fires.” This data would be essential for tracking the proportion of land degraded by fire, which relates to indicator 15.3.1 (“Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area”).
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.9: Substantially reduce illnesses from air pollution. | 3.9.1 (Implied): The article discusses health conditions like “asthma and heart disease” made worse by “ambient air pollution,” which are the components of this indicator. |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.6: Reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities by paying special attention to air quality. | 11.6.2 (Mentioned): The article explicitly discusses “fine particulate matter” of “2.5 microns or less” (PM2.5) and its measurement via the “Air Quality Index (AQI)” in populated areas. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards. | Implied Indicator: The article describes the state’s “air quality health advisory” system, which functions as an early warning and disaster risk reduction strategy for a climate-related hazard. |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.3: Combat land degradation. | Implied Indicator: The article points to a source of data on the “wildfires in…Canada,” which represents a major land degradation event. This data is used to measure the extent of degraded land. |
Source: uticaod.com
