Photo by: Pixabay user SD Pictures
Policies to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels can save lives and prevent disease.
Air pollution from burning fossil fuels can have major effects on human health. It can cause early death, heart attacks, hospitalizations for respiratory disorders, stroke, asthma attacks, and absenteeism from school and work. Climate change policies from the federal government, state, city, and local levels can make a big difference in reducing air pollution and improving health.
Each year, our team contributes to the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change to track the impacts of climate change on human health across 44 indicators around the world. Our research analyzing climate policies is focused on:
- Exploring how different transportation policies could influence health through better air quality and increases in physical activity.
- The energy, economic, environmental, and health outcomes of an illustrative clean energy standard design that reaches 80% clean electricity by 2030.
- Where to install renewable energy to get the greatest climate and health benefits in the U.S. and around the world.
Costs and Health Co-Benefits for a U.S. Power Plant Carbon Standard
Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants can have important “co-benefits” for public health by reducing emissions of air pollutants.
