Multiple health benefits of climate mitigation measures

About climate mitigation measures

Climate mitigation measures:

  • involve taking actions such as introducing policies, legislation and incentive schemes that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
  • can contribute to ambitious action on climate change, in line with Paris Agreement commitments
  • reduce other harmful emissions (eg, air pollutants), as emissions are oft en produced by the same sources
  • exist across sectors and governance scales (ie, global, regional, national, state, local)
  • must address inequalities across scales (ie, global, national, state, local)
  • can have health benefits by reducing the most health-harming impacts of climate change (eg, preventing deaths and injuries) when health is an explicit consideration during their development
  • need to be tailored to domestic circumstances and population needs to maximise local health benefits and avoid regressive actions and/or health co-harms/trade-offs
  • generally include a suite of both regulatory and market-based strategies.

Why are mitigation measures important for health?

Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, wildfires, floods and drought, will become increasingly frequent. These types of events can have substantial impacts on health, exposing people to burns and injuries, dangerous levels of air pollution, contaminated water and infectious diseases, loss of livelihood and properties, as well as mental-health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.

While out of scope for this resource, it is important to acknowledge the critical role that well-designed adaptation policies can play in reducing climate-related health impacts by building resilience to current experiences of climate change.

The multiple health benefits of climate mitigation measures by sector

A carefully designed carbon pricing mechanism is one strategy considered relevant to all sectors that can bring about direct and broader health benefits.

What are key characteristics of the health benefits of climate mitigation measures?

Health benefits from implementing mitigation measures:

  • can be achieved through numerous modifiable pathways
  • can be direct and/or indirect, physical and/or mental in nature
  • can occur immediately, intermediately and/or longer-term, and often accrue sooner than the direct benefits of reducing GHG emissions
  • need to be pursued, as climate adaptation measures on their own are limited in their capacity to protect human health, given limits to adaptation
  • are estimated through a variety of study designs and methods (generally undertaking four broad steps: 1) scoping; 2) impact assessment; 3) valuation; and 4) sensitivity/uncertainty analyses) and ideally involving engagement of key stakeholders from the outset
  • are an increasingly important consideration in all countries given ageing populations, many of whom have pre-existing health conditions
  • can partially or completely off set the costs associated with implementation.

What additional benefits can arise from implementing climate mitigation measures?

  • Ecosystem benefits through reducing biodiversity loss
  • Economic benefits through reduced healthcare costs, development, growth, employment and productivity opportunities
  • Resource-efficiency benefits through changes in solid waste and resources/materials
  • Benefits from avoided conflict and disasters associated with changes in climatic events
  • Equity benefits through well-designed mitigation policies that support vulnerable and at-risk populations
  • Energy security benefits through diversifying energy sources and reducing dependence on external energy sources
  • Increased agricultural crop yields due to reduced air pollution (ground-level ozone).

What additional research or resourcing is needed on the health benefits of climate mitigation measures?

There is currently limited research on health benefits in the context of:

  • marine ecosystems
  • green space
  • vulnerable and marginalised populations
  • the circular economy
  • the subnational level
  • developing countries, particularly those in Africa and Asia
  • using evidence from intervention studies to evaluate effectiveness
  • broader engagement with the concept through interdisciplinary research teams
  • their role in policy and integrated decision-making.

Additional investments are needed to support:

  • formal collaborative arrangements with key stakeholders and decision-makers
  • capacity building in developing countries
  • access to additional data sources.

Downloadable assets

Shareable PDF brochure

Infographic JPEG

Bibliography

References by sector

European Union Partnership InstrumentFE Health

This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union’s Partnership Instrument. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the University of Melbourne and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.