A statistical note:Proposal for air pollution as an indicator for tracking progress toward SDGs on health, energy and cities

Overview

Air pollution serves as important indicator for monitoring progress toward achieving the sustainable, equitable and healthy future we want. Improvements in air quality are a direct indication of achievements in the policies and interventions implemented for sustainable energy (i.e. energy access, energy efficiency), sustainable consumption, urban development, climate and infrastructure. At the same time, exposure to air pollution is major cause of mortality and morbidity globally, making data on air pollution levels and their spatial and temporal trends an essential and pragmatic indicator of the health impacts of sustainable development.