Moving towards ambitious climate policies: monetised health benefits from improved air quality could offset mitigation costs in Europe

摘要: Abstract Air quality and related health effects are not only affected by policies directly addressed at air pollution but also other environmental strategies such as climate mitigation. This study addresses how different policy pathways indirectly bear upon in terms of improved human Europe. To this end, we put perspective mitigation costs monetised benefits reducing PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 μm diameter) ozone concentrations. Europe impacts were assessed using a comprehensive modelling chain, based on global regional chemistry-transport models together with impact assessment tool. allows capturing both the emissions pollutants geophysical change quality. Results presented for projections 2050 horizon, set consistent scenarios, combined population data from UN's World Population Prospects, expressed morbidity mortality their damage equivalent. The analysis shows that enforcement current European would effectively reduce even absence (life years lost exposure to decrease 78% between 2005 reference scenario), while depend ambition level international policies. A move towards stringent scale, addition limiting warming, creates co-benefits reduced (68% life 85% premature deaths scenario relative scenario) cost savings (77%) These found offset least additional region.