Reducing global health risks through mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants: scoping report for policymakers.
Abstract
This document synthesizes a now-considerable literature on short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) to summarize the state of evidence linking them to human health, and outlines priority areas for mitigation action. It includes 12 chapters organized into 3 parts. Part I (chapters 1-3) describes the links between SLCPs and human health. Chapters 1 and 2 review the health effects of black carbon and ozone. Each chapter incorporates background information about the pollutant, including its radiative forcing mechanisms, main emission sources, and common co-pollutants. Chapter 3 focuses on potential indirect health impacts associated with emissions of SLCPs, including impacts related to food security and nutrition, temperature, natural hazards and disasters, and global climate change. Part II (chapters 4-11) provides a sector-by-sector analysis of potential "win-win" policies capable of simultaneously reducing SLCP emissions and improving population health. Chapter 4 is a summary of two major studies that have investigated potential climate benefits of SLCP mitigation actions. Chapters 5-11 explore the key sectors (transport, agriculture, household energy production and building design, industry, electricity generation, waste management) where known interventions have the ability to both reduce SLCP emissions and improve public health in general and in cities. Part III (chapter 12) presents the conclusions with subsequent appendices providing some additional technical detail, including information on how different interventions were rated in terms of their health and climate impacts and how the relevant scientific literature was identified.
Key words
- agriculture
- air pollutants
- air pollution
- buildings
- carbon
- cities
- climate
- climate change
- dwellings
- electricity generation
- emissions
- energy
- environmental health
- environmental policy
- environmental temperature
- exposure
- food security
- health hazards
- health policy
- industry
- natural disasters
- nutrition
- ozone
- pollution control
- public health
- transport
- urban areas
- waste management
- world