Air Quality Report: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – August 6, 2025
Executive Summary
On August 6, 2025, the air quality in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, registered as “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” presenting significant public health risks and highlighting challenges to achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With a PM2.5 concentration substantially exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, the city’s air pollution is driven by a combination of vehicular emissions, biomass burning, and industrial activities. These factors directly impede progress on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
Current Air Quality Status and Health Implications
Air Quality Index (AQI) and Pollutant Concentration
The air quality data for Addis Ababa indicates a serious environmental health concern:
- Air Quality Index (AQI): 147
- Primary Pollutant (PM2.5): 54.2 µg/m³
- Comparison to WHO Guideline: The measured PM2.5 level is over 3.6 times the WHO’s recommended 24-hour mean exposure limit of 15 µg/m³.
This level of pollution ranked Addis Ababa among the top four most polluted major cities globally on this date.
Impact on Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
The elevated PM2.5 concentration poses a direct threat to public health, undermining the objectives of SDG 3. Exposure to such poor air quality increases the risk of:
- Respiratory illnesses
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Exacerbated symptoms in sensitive populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health issues.
Achieving SDG 3.9, which aims to substantially reduce deaths and illnesses from air pollution, requires immediate and sustained action to control emission sources.
Analysis of Pollution Sources and Link to SDGs
Primary Contributors to PM2.5 Pollution
The primary drivers of poor air quality in Addis Ababa are closely linked to urban development patterns and energy consumption habits. The main sources include:
- Vehicular Emissions: Accounting for up to 29% of PM2.5, emissions from a large fleet of older, diesel-powered vehicles are a major contributor.
- Biomass Combustion: The widespread use of wood, charcoal, and crop residue for residential and commercial cooking and heating is a significant source, particularly during colder seasons.
- Dust Resuspension: Construction activities, quarry operations, and traffic on unpaved roads generate substantial particulate matter.
- Open Waste Burning: The disposal of refuse through open burning, including traditional events, causes sharp spikes in PM2.5 concentrations.
- Industrial Emissions: Factories, such as cement plants and other industrial units, contribute to the overall pollution load.
Connection to Sustainable Development Goals
These pollution sources reveal systemic challenges related to several SDGs:
- SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The prevalence of pollution from transport, construction, and inadequate waste management highlights a critical need for sustainable urban planning. Addressing these issues is fundamental to achieving Target 11.6, which focuses on reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality.
- SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Heavy reliance on biomass for energy points to a gap in access to clean and affordable energy for households, a core objective of SDG 7. Transitioning to cleaner energy sources is crucial for both health and environmental sustainability.
- SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Open waste burning and industrial emissions reflect unsustainable production and consumption patterns. Implementing sustainable waste management systems and enforcing cleaner production standards are essential for progress on SDG 12.
Mitigation Efforts and Policy Alignment
Current Initiatives
The Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority has initiated a nationwide pollution reduction campaign. This effort, launched on June 5, 2025, aims to mitigate pollution through public awareness and the enforcement of environmental regulations. The focus is on curbing key sources like vehicle emissions and open waste burning.
Aligning Actions with Global Goals
These initiatives represent a crucial step toward aligning national policy with the SDGs. By targeting the root causes of air pollution, these actions directly support the achievement of SDG 3, SDG 11, and related goals. Success will depend on sustained enforcement and the integration of air quality management into broader urban and energy development strategies.
Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article
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Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The article on air quality in Addis Ababa addresses several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary issues of air pollution, its sources, and its health impacts directly relate to the following SDGs:
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SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The article explicitly links air pollution to health risks. It states the air quality is “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and a “health concern,” particularly for those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. This directly connects to the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The entire article is centered on an urban environmental issue. It discusses the poor air quality in a major city, Addis Ababa, and identifies the sources as urban activities like vehicle exhaust, construction, and waste burning. This aligns with the goal of making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by addressing their environmental impact.
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SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
One of the main causes of pollution identified is “Biomass burning: Residential and commercial cooking, along with heating using wood, crop residue, and charcoal.” This highlights a dependency on non-clean energy sources for basic needs, which is a core concern of SDG 7, aiming to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
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SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
The article mentions “Open waste burning” and “Industrial emissions” as significant contributors to air pollution. These practices point to unsustainable patterns of production and waste management, which SDG 12 aims to address by promoting the environmentally sound management of waste and reducing pollution.
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What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the issues discussed, the following specific targets can be identified:
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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 focus on the health concerns posed by a PM2.5 concentration of 54.2 µg/m³, which is “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” directly relates to this target of reducing illness from air pollution.
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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 article is a case study of this target, detailing the poor air quality in Addis Ababa and linking it to urban sources like traffic and “open waste burning.”
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Target 7.1
“By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.” The article implies a challenge in meeting this target by identifying “biomass burning” for cooking and heating as a major source of pollution. This suggests a lack of access to clean and modern energy alternatives for a portion of the population.
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Target 12.4
“By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.” The mention of “Open waste burning” and “Industrial emissions” from cement plants as key pollution sources directly points to the need to improve waste management and reduce industrial pollution, as outlined in this target.
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Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article provides specific quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:
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Indicator for Targets 3.9 and 11.6 (Specifically Indicator 11.6.1)
The article provides a direct measurement for the indicator “Annual mean concentration of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities.” It states the PM2.5 concentration in Addis Ababa is 54.2 µg/m³ and the Air Quality Index (AQI) is 147. These figures serve as a baseline to measure any reduction in air pollution.
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Implied Indicator for Target 7.1 (Specifically Indicator 7.1.2)
While not providing a number, the article implies the relevance of the indicator “Proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology.” By stating that “Biomass burning” for cooking and heating is a major pollution source, it suggests that this proportion is low. Progress could be measured by a reduction in pollution from this source, indicating a shift to cleaner energy.
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Qualitative Indicators for Target 12.4
The article points to qualitative indicators related to waste management and industrial pollution. The practice of “Open waste burning” and the existence of “Industrial emissions” from factories are identified as problems. Progress could be measured by the implementation and enforcement of regulations targeting these sources, such as the “nationwide pollution reduction campaign” mentioned in the article.
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Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs Targets Indicators Identified in the Article SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being Target 3.9: Substantially reduce deaths and illnesses from air pollution. PM2.5 concentration (54.2 µg/m³) and Air Quality Index (147) as measures of health risk. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, paying special attention to air quality. PM2.5 concentration in the city (Indicator 11.6.1). Sources of pollution identified: vehicle exhaust (29% of PM2.5), dust, and open waste burning. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy Target 7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services. Implied Indicator: High reliance on biomass (wood, charcoal) for cooking and heating, identified as a major pollution source. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production Target 12.4: Achieve environmentally sound management of wastes and reduce their release to air. Identified practices of “Open waste burning” and “Industrial emissions” as key pollution sources to be managed and reduced.
Source: iqair.com
