‘It’s Never Good!’: A Street-Level Look at New York City’s Air Quality – Inside Climate News

Report on Urban Air Pollution and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Air Quality in New York City and the SDG Framework

An investigation into urban air pollution in New York City, led by air-pollution scholar George Thurston, highlights the persistent health risks associated with fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This report analyzes these findings through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The data collected underscores the urgent need for integrated policies that address public health, urban planning, and climate change simultaneously.

Analysis of PM2.5 Pollution and its Impact on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Health Consequences of PM2.5 Exposure

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a composite of harmful chemicals and heavy metals that poses a significant threat to human health. Long-term exposure is directly linked to severe health conditions, undermining progress towards SDG 3, specifically Target 3.9, which aims to substantially reduce deaths and illnesses from air pollution.

• Adverse Health Impacts: Health effects range from childhood asthma to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
• Mortality Rates: In New York City, long-term exposure to PM2.5 is estimated to contribute to approximately 2,000 premature deaths annually, accounting for 1 in every 25 deaths.
• Systemic Risk: The smallest particles can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream, creating systemic health risks that extend beyond the respiratory system.

Critique of Public Health Communication Tools

Public awareness tools, such as the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), may not adequately communicate the risks associated with PM2.5. According to Thurston, even air quality levels rated as “good” (under 50 on the index) can pose health risks, suggesting a gap in public health messaging required to fully achieve SDG 3.

Urban Pollution Sources and Challenges for SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Identification of Key Urban Emission Sources

The investigation identified multiple sources of PM2.5 pollution within the urban environment, which directly challenge the objectives of SDG 11, particularly Target 11.6, focused on reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities by improving air quality.

1. Vehicular Traffic: Emissions from buses and idling vehicles are a primary source. A measurement taken behind a bus registered PM2.5 levels at 27 micrograms per cubic meter, significantly exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended 24-hour average exposure of 15 micrograms.
2. Commercial Activities: Mobile sources such as food trucks were found to be significant polluters, with one measurement near a truck showing PM2.5 levels rising to 45 micrograms per cubic meter.
3. Public Transit Infrastructure: The subway system registered the highest pollution levels. PM2.5 concentrations on a station platform soared to 133 micrograms per cubic meter, largely due to metal particles from rail and brake wear, as well as emissions from diesel-powered maintenance trains.

Policy and Infrastructure Considerations

While policies like congestion pricing have shown success in reducing traffic, challenges remain. The high concentration of pollutants in the poorly ventilated subway system and the inconsistent enforcement of anti-idling regulations highlight the need for comprehensive urban planning and infrastructure upgrades to create sustainable and healthy cities as envisioned in SDG 11.

Linkages Between Fossil Fuels, Climate Change, and Air Quality: SDG 7 and SDG 13

Fossil Fuel Combustion as a Core Issue

The report emphasizes that the combustion of carbon-based fuels is the root cause of both harmful PM2.5 emissions and climate change, linking the challenges of urban air quality directly to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Thurston’s assertion that “burning things for energy is barbaric” calls for an accelerated transition away from fossil fuels.

Differentiating PM2.5 Sources

Research indicates that the composition of PM2.5 determines its level of harm. This distinction is critical for prioritizing policy actions in line with climate and health goals.

• Fossil Fuel PM2.5: Particles from the combustion of fossil fuels are found to be significantly more harmful to the cardiovascular system than those from biomass.
• Wildfire PM2.5: While episodic events like Canadian wildfire smoke cause acute air quality issues, daily exposure to urban pollution from fossil fuels represents a more consistent and dangerous health threat for city residents. This reinforces the need to focus on reducing emissions from transportation and energy production to meet SDG 13 targets.

The Role of Regulation

The report acknowledges that regulations, such as the EPA’s stringent rules on diesel-powered vehicles, have been effective in cleaning the air. The mandatory implementation of diesel particulate filters on trucks manufactured after 2007 is a key example. This demonstrates that strong regulatory frameworks are essential for achieving the interconnected goals of public health, sustainable cities, and climate action.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

The article on air pollution in New York City connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by highlighting the multifaceted impacts of poor air quality on public health, urban living, climate, and social equity.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The core theme of the article is the detrimental effect of air pollution, specifically PM2.5, on human health. It explicitly mentions health impacts “ranging from childhood asthma to cancer and heart disease” and states that long-term exposure “contributes to an estimated 2,000 premature deaths a year” in New York City.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article is set entirely within an urban context (New York City) and examines pollution from sources integral to city life, such as traffic, public transit (subways), and food trucks. It discusses urban air quality management through regulations, monitoring, and policies like congestion pricing, directly addressing the sustainability of the urban environment.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article identifies the primary source of harmful pollution as the burning of carbon-based fuels. The expert, George Thurston, is quoted as saying, “The bottom line is we shouldn’t be burning things. … Burning things for energy is barbaric.” This points to the need to transition away from fossil fuels towards cleaner energy sources for power and transportation.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article touches upon environmental justice by noting that pollution is not evenly distributed. It states that “high-emission vehicles are often in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color,” highlighting how vulnerable populations bear a disproportionate burden of the health risks associated with air pollution.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The connection between air pollution and climate change is clearly made. The article explains that PM2.5 particles are produced by vehicles and power plants that “burn carbon-based fuels, worsening climate change.” It also notes that wildfires, another source of PM2.5, are being “intensifying” by climate change, creating a feedback loop.

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

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

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 relates to this target by quantifying the health burden of air pollution in New York City, citing “an estimated 2,000 premature deaths a year” and illnesses like asthma, cancer, and heart disease caused by PM2.5 exposure.
2. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality.
   • The entire article is an examination of this target. It focuses on measuring and analyzing the air quality in New York City, identifying pollution hotspots (bus stops, subways, food trucks), and discussing the effectiveness of tools like the U.S. Air Quality Index.
3. Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all…
   • The article scrutinizes various transportation modes. It highlights pollution from buses and trucks, the surprisingly high PM2.5 levels in subway stations due to metal particles and diesel maintenance trains, and the positive impact of “congestion pricing” in reducing traffic. This analysis is central to creating safer and more sustainable transport.
4. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • The article implies this target through its critique of current energy sources. The statement that “we shouldn’t be burning things” for energy is a direct call to move away from combustion-based energy systems (fossil fuels) towards cleaner alternatives.
5. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all…
   • This target is relevant due to the article’s mention of environmental injustice. The observation that truck traffic and its associated emissions are concentrated in “low-income neighborhoods and communities of color” points to a systemic inequality that needs to be addressed for inclusive urban development.

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 and implies several indicators that align with the official SDG framework for measuring progress.

• Indicator 11.6.2: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted).
  • This is the most prominent indicator in the article. George Thurston’s work revolves around measuring PM2.5 concentrations. The article provides specific, real-time measurements that serve as data points for this indicator:
    • “readings shot up to 27 micrograms per cubic meter” behind a bus.
    • “concentration of PM2.5 shot up from the low teens to 45 micrograms per cubic meter” near a food truck.
    • PM2.5 levels soared to “a whopping 133 micrograms per cubic meter” in a subway station.
    • It also references the World Health Organization’s guideline that average exposure “shouldn’t top 15 micrograms” in a 24-hour period, providing a benchmark for these measurements.
• Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.
  • The article provides a direct statistic for this indicator by stating that in New York City, long-term exposure to PM2.5 “contributes to an estimated 2,000 premature deaths a year, or 1 in 25 deaths.” This data point can be used to track progress in reducing deaths from air pollution.
• Implied Indicators for Sustainable Transport and Reduced Inequality:
  • While not citing official indicator codes, the article implies ways to measure progress. For sustainable transport (Target 11.2), the reduction in traffic due to “congestion pricing” is mentioned as a positive outcome. For reducing inequality (Target 10.2), an implied indicator would be the measurement and comparison of PM2.5 levels in different neighborhoods to track whether the pollution burden on “low-income neighborhoods and communities of color” is decreasing over time.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: insideclimatenews.org