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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/21/rolling-back-on-climate-actions-may-spell-rise-in-preventable-illness-study>
"Countries that weaken or stop their net zero and climate actions may be
consigning their populations to decades of preventable illness.
Gains from net zero are often presented as global benefits and mainly for
future generations. But less fossil fuel use also means less air pollution
which results in local health gains right away.
For example, rapid health gains are predicted from policies for US net zero by
2050. By 2035, between 4,000 to 15,000 fewer US residents would die annually
from air pollution, saving the US economy $65bn to $128bn, with even greater
benefits thereafter.
A study, led by Imperial College London, has found that there are large health
gains from UK net zero actions.
Dr Mike Holland, who was part of the study team, said: “Fundamental changes
required for net zero will bring long lasting benefits to UK health. Or turn
that around. If we don’t take the net zero path, we will be sicker. This would
be a double own goal on both climate and health.”
The researchers looked at the net zero pathways for transport and buildings in
the UK’s sixth carbon budget. Health improvements came about from less air
pollution and also increased exercise from more walking, cycling and e-biking.
By 2060 the economic gains from fewer deaths would amount to £26bn-£31bn. New
evidence meant they were also able to estimate gains from less illness too;
around £20bn adding to the economic benefits from net zero.
Some gains would be expected straight away, as air pollution decreased. These
include fewer new cases of asthma in children and adults, as well as reduced
hospital admissions for breathing and heart problems. This is consistent with
recent health improvements that followed Bradford’s clean air zone and others
around Europe.
Fewer strokes and heart attacks would emerge more slowly over five years as air
pollution started to reduce. For lung cancer, the reduction in cases would be
expected to lag air pollution improvements by six to 20 years.
But the gains would not stop in 2060. Children born in the 2050s would suffer
from fewer air pollution illnesses as they grew up and aged as adults. Although
less certain than the other illnesses studied, the greatest long-term gains
could be in cases of dementia."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
