A new UNU-IIGH policy developed in collaboration with the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research “Maximizing climate and health co-benefits: an overview of existing evidence on food, energy, and urban infrastructure systems and transitions” explores evidence-based pathways to deliver mutually reinforcing benefits for climate mitigation, public health, and equity.
UNU-IIGH’s Remco van de Pas, along with Salma M Abdalla, Giulia Loffreda, Isaac Stovall, Robert Marten, Anders Nordström, and Kumanan Rasanathan, explore integrated strategies that address both climate change and health challenges through co-beneficial policy actions.
The brief emphasizes that while climate change mitigation and health improvement are closely aligned, not all climate actions directly enhance health or equity outcomes. Instead, focusing on health co-benefits (the positive impacts of climate policies on health) can drive more ambitious, inclusive, and sustainable climate action.
Drawing on evidence from the Lancet Pathfinder Commission, they highlight three critical pathways where climate interventions can yield significant health co-benefits:
- Food systems: Transitioning to healthy, sustainable diets could prevent millions of premature deaths and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food production.
- Energy systems: Shifting to clean energy could save millions of lives annually by cutting air pollution while generating new employment opportunities.
- Urban infrastructure: Investing in active transport, public transit and greener cities can reduce premature deaths, air pollution, and NCDs, while promoting safer, healthier, and more equitable cities.
This brief will serve as a catalyst for discussions with subject matter experts to refine, prioritize, and chart a pathway for recommended actions, with the ultimate goal of enhancing expert insights to further develop and maximize policy actions.
Read the full brief here.
