Blog 12 July 2023
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to address poverty, inequality, environmental degradation and promote sustainable development worldwide. These 17 interconnected goals recognise the interdependence between economic, social and environmental aspects of human wellbeing and highlight the urgent need for transformative actions.
Clean air can be a catalyst for driving progress on Agenda 2030. We won’t be able to meet these ambitious goals and ensure no one is left behind if air pollution is not addressed.
Which SDGs can clean air accelerate?
Clean air has a significant positive impact on several goals, directly contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and indirectly contributing to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Air pollution can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, which are major contributors to global mortality rates. Policies and action tackling air pollution have a direct positive impact on population health (SDG 3), further resulting in increased labour productivity and economic growth (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth) and better education (SDG 4).
Building sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) relies on safe levels of particulate matter pollution, while achieving universal access to sustainable energy (SDG 7) implies shifting away from the dirty fuels that cause both outdoor and indoor (household) air pollution. Ozone, a potent air pollutant, significantly reduces crop yield, so clean air supports food security and improved nutrition (SDG 2).
The most vulnerable people and communities – children, women and the elderly – are usually those who suffer the most from air pollution, so policies and actions to improve air quality can also contribute to reducing inequalities (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities; SDG 5: Gender Equality).
As both air pollution and climate change are mainly caused by burning fossil fuels, clean air action is also often climate action (SDG 13). Solutions to improving air quality—such as switching to affordable and cleaner energy, cooking and lowering transport emissions —will also address the climate emergency.
Reducing air pollution associated with responsible production and consumption is critical to achieving SDG 12, including reducing emissions from transportation, waste burning and industrial activities. Clean air can also support SDG 15, as air pollution can harm ecosystems and biodiversity, including plants, animals and microorganisms. Clean air will help protect these species and maintain healthy ecosystems.
Indicators related to air pollution
While there are three specific indicators for reducing air pollution in the formal system of SDG indicators, improving air quality supports the achievement of many more goals. Click on the below goals to see which indicators are directly and indirectly related to improved air quality.
| Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) | Indicators |
|---|---|
| SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being | 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to non-communicable disease 3.6.2: Proportion of population with access to safely managed sanitation services |
| SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.1.2: Proportion of population with access to electricity 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption 7.3.1: Energy intensity measured in terms of primary energy and GDP 7.A.1: International financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy research and development |
| SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.6.2: Proportion of urban solid waste regularly collected and with adequate final discharge out of total urban solid waste generated 11.7.1: Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities 11.2.1: Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities |
| SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.4.1: Number of parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste and other chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement 12.5.1: National recycling rate, tons of material recycled 12.8.1: Extent to which global citizenship education and education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in national education policies, curricula, teacher education, and student assessment |
| SDG 13 – Climate Action | 13.1.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning into primary, secondary and tertiary curricula 13.2.1: Total greenhouse gas emissions per year |
| SDG 15 – Life on Land | 15.9.1: Progress towards national targets established in accordance with Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 |
Financing a catalyst for Agenda 2030
Smarter funding for projects that improve air quality can deliver enormous benefits globally in terms of human health, economic development and climate mitigation and adaptation. By investing in clean air projects, funders can more effectively utilise their resources, delivering smart interventions that cut across several SDGs simultaneously.
Our State of Global Air Quality Funding report outlines recommendations for smarter investments in delivering the SDGs.
