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The EDIAQI Project and the UN’s SDGs: a better air for a better planet

Sustainable Development Goals Table

The EDIAQI Project and the Importance of IAQ

When we think about the future, it is common to consider risks and plan accordingly. This is what everyone does, and this includes countries and international organisations. However, to prepare for the future, we must first understand the nature and sources of risks, and this is what the EDIAQI Project aims to do. Standing for Evidence Driven Indoor Air Quality Improvement, EDIAQI involves 18 organisations from 11 European countries focusing on an often-overlooked risk connected to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).

Funded within the Horizon Europe framework, the project’s objective is to measure and monitor indoor air pollution in European cities to understand its sources, routes and effects on human health. Moreover, the collected data will be used to predict the evolution of IAQ in given environments to help policymakers – in Europe and beyond – set new standards and guidelines. In addition, another goal is to provide science-based evidence to support the Zero-Pollution Action Plan of the European Green Deal. The EDIAQI project also hopes to raise public awareness and create cost-effective/user-friendly monitoring solutions so that ordinary people will understand their day-to-day behaviour's impact on IAQ and, therefore, their health.

Even if IAQ is already an important matter, it is not an end itself, but it is part of something much bigger, as it is linked with many of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030’s objectives. Shaped to create guidelines for a better future for the people and the planet (Breeze, 2020), the UN Agenda for 2030 comprises of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), each intending to support states worldwide to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future in social, economic and environmental terms. These SDGs are: 1) No Poverty; 2) Zero Hunger; 3) Good Health and Well-Being; 4) Quality Education; 5) Gender Equality; 6) Water and Sanitation; 7) Affordable and Clean Energy; 8) Decent Work and Economic Growth; 9) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; 10) Reduced Inequalities; 11) Sustainable Cities and Communities; 12) Responsible Consumption and Production; 13) Climate Action; 14) Life Below Water; 15) Life on Land; 16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; 17) Partnerships for the Goals.

 

The links between EDIAQI and SDGs

As stated above, the connections between EDIAQI and Agenda 2030 are various, but some are clearer than others.

 

Sustainable Development Goal N. 3

The first SDG considered is Goal Area number 3 – Good Health and Well-Being – which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Of course, tackling indoor air pollution means letting people live in healthier environments, but in particular, EDIAQI will help with targets 3.2, 3.4 and 3.9. Respectively, they refer to ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age, reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, cancer or chronic respiratory disease), and reducing the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

By improving the IAQ situation, the EDIAQI project will help lower several types of diseases associated with indoor pollution, like cardiovascular diseases, acute lower respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis, lung, pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer, and asthma (Amegah & Jaakkola, 2016; Aradhana, 2022). The most affected individuals by these kinds of illnesses tend to be the most vulnerable groups like women, the elderly and children. For example, a study from the WHO linked 50% of respiratory infection related deaths of children under five years to poor indoor air quality (Ministero della Salute, 2015). Furthermore, poor indoor air quality is also known to facilitate the transmission of viruses, like Covid-19 and Influenza. In fact, up to 15% of COVID-19-related deaths can be attributed to bad IAQ (Aradhana, 2022; EDIAQI, 2023).

 

Sustainable Development Goal N. 11

EDIAQI can play an important role to support the fulfilment of SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities – whose objective is to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Here, the most relatable targets are: 11.1, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services; 11.2, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all; 11.6, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality; and 11.7, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.

Whether in houses, public places (like schools or hospitals) or public transportation, what matters most is to provide better IAQ to ensure a safer and healthier environment. In order to do so, it is necessary to guarantee good ventilation, for example, by improving houses, enlarging kitchen windows or roof spaces, or separating cooking areas from living spaces. The best way to obtain these improvements is by helping policymakers to create new building standards and guidelines (Amegah & Jaakkola, 2016; Breeze, 2020). In addition, to produce less indoor and outdoor pollution, we must also change household behaviours. Globally, 41% of households continue to rely on solid fuels for cooking and heating. Change in this regard require raising awareness about the hazardous nature of solid fuels and making cleaner fuels more affordable and accessible (Amegah & Jaakkola, 2016; Aradhana, 2022).

 

Sustainable Development Goal N. 13

The last link analysed in this article is SDG number 13 – Climate Action – aiming to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. The specific targets to consider are 13.2 and 13.3, integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning, and improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

As in SDG 11, the two main goals are one, to create a better and holistic legal framework and two, to raise awareness of the effect that each behaviour can cause. In fact, while it is important to provide households with the possibility to use renewable energy and clean fuels, it is also essential that every institution, from international organisations to national governments, create and enforce rules that will improve air quality and in the process mitigate some of the effects of climate change (Amegah & Jaakkola, 2016; Aradhana, 2022; Camfil, 2022).

 

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