Carbon emissions policy in Massachusetts could save lives

A carbon fee-and-rebate policy in Massachusetts could save as many as 340 lives over the course of 23 years and reduce carbon emissions by 33 million metric tons, according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The study analyzed the potential effects of a model policy between 2017–2040, looking specifically at how the legislation would affect levels of air pollutants, including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter and volatile organic compounds.

“Climate policies, even at the state or local level, can have substantial, basically immediate, and local benefits to health,” Jonathan Buonocore, a research associated at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment (C-CHANGE), said in a January 24, 2019 Physics World article. “By improving air quality, these policies can especially protect children, the elderly, and others that are more vulnerable to air pollution.”

Read the Physics World article: Massachusetts carbon tax ‘would save 340 lives’

Learn more

Projected health benefits of Mass. carbon fee-and-rebate bill explored (Harvard Chan School news)

Most U.S. counties could gain $1m in annual health benefits from a power plant carbon standard (Harvard Chan press release)

Clean air and health benefits of clean power plan hinge on key policy decisions (Harvard Chan press release)