Climate action has valuable health benefits

The negative impacts of global climate change are well-known, but the health benefits of climate mitigation actions and their high monetary valuations are less appreciated. Actions to reduce the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy production, industry, transportation, and agriculture will also bring major benefits to public health (see Figure 1).1 Economic benefits from health care savings and improved population health can far exceed the cost of climate mitigation measures. Cities, regions, and countries that implement climate change mitigation actions will gain immediate and long-term economic benefits of these health improvements.