Co-benefits of climate actions for air and health in India

Cities in India have the world’s worst air pollution, though climate change mitigation efforts could improve air quality while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and delivering substantial co-benefits for health. 

Using an interdisciplinary modelling approach, we will quantify the air quality and health co-benefits of mitigation and adaptation policies in Ahmedabad, India in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute, Public Health Foundation of India and the Natural Resources Defense Council. We will estimate the total electricity demand in 2030, considering climate change and demand for air conditioning. We will model and compare air quality associated with two climate change response strategies: shifting fossil fuel use to solar energy; and expanding cool roof/green landcover interventions. We will also use air quality estimates to calculate health co-benefits in 2030, relative to a 2018 baseline and a 2030 business-as-usual scenario. 

This work could motivate transformative climate actions that deliver health benefits.