There are many health co-benefits of climate change mitigation policies across a range of sectors.
The extent of the benefits is influenced by various contextual factors, including the policy in question, the baseline level of population exposure to air pollution, and the sources of such pollution, as well as existing patterns of physical activity and food consumption. Capitalizing on the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation actions is a winwin strategy that can improve public health while addressing the climate crisis.
Key Messages
- Long-term health benefits from mitigation include avoiding the dramatic increases in heat-related mortality projected for later this century, particularly under high emissions scenarios. In the short term, benefits include reduced air pollution, increased consumption of healthy and more sustainable diets, and improved physical health from the use of more active and sustainable transportation modes.
- Fossil-fuel-related ambient (outdoor) air pollution has been estimated to cause over 5 million premature deaths per year worldwide, more than half of which are linked to coal combustion.
- The Food Systems Economics Commission has estimated the economic value of the damage caused by current food systems to human health and the planet at well over US$10 trillion annually, more than such systems contribute to global GDP.
- A diverse diet, high in plant-based foods and low in animal products, could prevent about 11 million premature deaths annually by 2050 (according to the EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health). Such a diet would greatly reduce the environmental impact of the food system, including by reducing methane emissions from ruminant animals. The affordability and cultural acceptability of such a diet will be crucial in determining uptake.
- More sustainable transportation systems that provide opportunities for walking and cycling in relative safety and equitable access to public transportation offer the prospect of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving health. Including an economic valuation of health benefits in their appraisal can substantially improve estimates of their cost-effectiveness.
Keywords
air pollutionco-benefitsdietmitigationtransportation