Wildfire Smoke Air Quality Alert: New York City among 10 most polluted major cities – IQAir

 

Air Quality Report: Montreal, Quebec

Date of Report: August 8, 2025

This report details the significant degradation of air quality in Montreal, Quebec, and surrounding regions, analyzing the causes, impacts, and alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Current Air Quality Status

Advisory and Health Impact

As of August 8, 2025, Montreal is experiencing poor air quality, prompting an official alert. The primary pollutant is fine particulate matter (PM2.5) originating from wildfire smoke. This situation poses a direct threat to public health, challenging the objectives of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by increasing risks of respiratory and cardiovascular problems for the population.

Global and Local Ranking

The severity of the event is highlighted by Montreal’s ranking as the 9th most polluted major city in the world on this date. This status undermines efforts to create healthy urban environments as outlined in SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Causative Factors and Atmospheric Conditions

Source of Pollution

The primary cause is identified as drifting smoke from extensive wildfires burning in the Canadian Prairie provinces, specifically Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This transboundary pollution demonstrates the interconnectedness of environmental challenges, impacting regions far from the source.

Meteorological Influence

A high-pressure weather system is exacerbating the situation by trapping the smoke and pushing pollutants toward the ground level, leading to high surface concentrations of particulate matter. Air quality is forecasted to improve later in the evening as atmospheric conditions shift.

Regional Impact and Scope

The wildfire smoke is affecting a wide geographical area, with significant air quality degradation reported in multiple urban centers. This widespread impact underscores the regional nature of the environmental crisis.

Affected Areas Include:

• Montreal, Quebec
• Broader regions of Quebec
• Broader regions of Ontario
• Parts of New York State, USA

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This air quality event has significant implications for several key SDGs, highlighting the interconnectedness of environmental health, climate, and human well-being.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The high concentration of pollutants directly compromises public health. Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions, are at heightened risk. Ensuring clean air is fundamental to achieving SDG 3.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Persistent poor air quality makes cities less safe, resilient, and sustainable. This event serves as a critical reminder that urban sustainability is dependent on managing environmental factors that originate both within and outside city boundaries.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The increased frequency and intensity of wildfires are strongly linked to climate change. This event is a direct consequence of climate-related phenomena, emphasizing the urgent need for robust climate action to mitigate the root causes of such disasters.

SDG 15: Life on Land

The wildfires causing the pollution are simultaneously destroying forests and terrestrial ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss and land degradation. This directly contravenes the goals of SDG 15, which aims to protect and restore life on land.

Recommended Protective Measures for Public Health

To mitigate health risks associated with poor air quality and support SDG 3, individuals are advised to take the following precautions:

1. Reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities.
2. Keep windows and doors closed to prevent polluted air from entering indoor spaces.
3. Use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers to improve indoor air quality.
4. If outdoor activity is unavoidable, wear a properly fitted N95 or equivalent respirator mask.
5. Monitor official air quality forecasts and health advisories for the latest information.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

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

The article on Montreal’s poor air quality connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by highlighting the environmental and health challenges posed by air pollution from wildfires.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is central to the article’s theme. The discussion of “poor air quality,” “high concentrations of particulate matter,” and the question “How can I protect myself from poor air quality?” directly relate to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being. Air pollution is a significant environmental health risk.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article focuses on the environmental conditions within a specific city, Montreal. It mentions that “Montreal ranked 9th among the most polluted cities in the world,” which directly addresses the goal of making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by managing urban environmental quality.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The source of the air pollution is “drifting wildfire smoke.” Wildfires are increasingly linked to climate change, which exacerbates conditions that lead to more frequent and intense fires. The article implicitly connects to the need to combat climate change and its impacts, as these wildfires are a climate-related natural hazard affecting communities far from the source.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The root cause of the problem described is “wildfire smoke from fires burning across the Prairie provinces.” This points to the degradation of terrestrial ecosystems, specifically forests. This SDG aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt land degradation, making it relevant to the source of the pollution.

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

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality.

   This is the most direct target. The entire article is a case study of this target in action, detailing a significant negative environmental impact on the city of Montreal specifically through poor air quality. The article’s focus on Montreal’s air quality map, its global pollution ranking, and the forecast for its air quality directly aligns with this target.

2. 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 mention of “high concentrations of particulate matter” refers to a hazardous air pollutant. The issuance of an “air quality alert” and advice on self-protection imply a direct threat to human health, which is the core concern of this target.

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

   The wildfire event causing the pollution can be classified as a climate-related hazard. The article mentions an “air quality alert” being issued for Montreal, which represents an adaptive measure to inform and protect citizens from the hazard’s impact, thus relating to building resilience.

4. Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests…

   The problem originates from “fires burning across the Prairie provinces.” These fires represent a failure or challenge in conserving forest ecosystems, which is the focus of this target. The smoke affecting Montreal is a direct consequence of this ecosystem degradation.

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 mentions several direct and indirect indicators that can be used to measure the status of the identified targets.

• Indicator for Target 11.6: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities.

  The article explicitly states that the poor air quality is due to “high concentrations of particulate matter.” The data from IQAir, including the city’s ranking (“Montreal ranked 9th among the most polluted cities”) and the hourly air quality forecast, are direct measurements related to this indicator.

• Indicator for Target 3.9: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.

  While the article does not provide mortality or illness statistics, the “air quality alert” and the presence of “particulate matter” serve as proxy indicators for the *risk* of illness and death from air pollution, which this target aims to reduce.

• Indicator for Target 13.1: Existence of national and local disaster risk reduction strategies.

  The “air quality alert in Montreal” mentioned in the article is an example of a local disaster risk response, which is a component of a broader risk reduction strategy. Its issuance is an indicator of adaptive capacity in response to a hazard.

• Indicator for Target 15.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

  The article implies a negative impact on this indicator. The mention of “wildfire smoke from fires burning across the Prairie provinces” indicates a loss of forest area, which is the primary measure for this target. The scale and impact of the smoke serve as an indirect indicator of the extent of forest degradation.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs	Targets	Indicators Identified in the Article
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, paying special attention to air quality.	City’s air pollution ranking (“9th most polluted”). Concentrations of particulate matter. Hourly air quality forecast data.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	3.9: Substantially reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous air pollution.	Presence of “high concentrations of particulate matter.” Issuance of an “air quality alert” implying health risk.
SDG 13: Climate Action	13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.	The occurrence of a large-scale wildfire event. The issuance of an “air quality alert” as a public warning and adaptive response.
SDG 15: Life on Land	15.1: Ensure the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, in particular forests.	The existence of “fires burning across the Prairie provinces,” indicating loss of forest area.

Source: iqair.com