Health and economic benefits of energy, urban planning, and food interventions that lower greenhouse gas emissions

Public health can be immediately and substantially improved by policies that also mitigate climate change over the longer term. However, implementation of these policies has been slowed at least in part by doubts and lack of awareness of these health co-benefits. To address this barrier to progress, we demonstrate how an illustrative set of interventions led to environmental, health, and economic benefits, in addition to mitigating climate change. These case studies include the closure of a coal coking plant near Pittsburgh, PA, USA, which was followed by substantial immediate and longer-term reductions in respiratory and cardiovascular health conditions in the affected local community; the health and economic benefits associated with the Barcelona, Spain Superblock program and, the air quality, health, and economic benefits from air pollution initiatives implemented in China. While improvements in air pollution are among the most obvious examples of the co-benefits achievable through climate-friendly interventions, others that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as the sustainable food systems in Sweden, forest conservation in Tanzania, and a plant-based food program in New York City, further illustrate how such initiatives can align with better nutrition, economic gains, and improved health. We conclude that more assessments of such interventions are needed internationally to more widely document their health and climate benefits and thereby motivate greater implementation of these interventions. Now is the time to showcase how we can improve the public's health and well-being, while also protecting our planet, the only home future generations will have.