Estimating The Costs Of Inaction And The Economic Benefits Of Addressing The Health Harms Of Climate Change

Health effects from heat waves in France: an economic evaluation

“…In the discussion, we point out that these health-related effects are largely preventable through cost-beneficial measures, from the most local to the most global level, making inaction absurdly wasteful. This provides support for the approaches of Sheehan et al [11] or Limaye et al [4] to how healthcost assessment can be applied to health-protective heat policy, with the aim of making decision-makers aware of the urgency of prioritizing measures to prevent the adverse health consequences of climate change.…”

“…Third, the most vulnerable in the population—the poorest, the elderly, people socially isolated or suffering from chronic diseases—are more severely affected than the rest of the population, and it is the responsibility of public decision-makers to protect them. Inequities in heat-exposure [ 74 ] can be combined with higher individual susceptibility to heat [ 4 , 70 ] and with limited access to protective behaviors [ 5 ]. The increase in vulnerability due to aging, health inequities or socio-economic disadvantage associated with the COVID-19 outbreak is likely to worsen the health consequences of heat waves [ 75 ].…”

“…First, because they are less visible, being more widespread and leading to less easily identifiable deaths than those from hurricanes, floods or wildfires. Second, because they are apparently less costly to society due to their limited impact on insured goods like infrastructures, cultures, and property [ 4 ]. Third, because they often hit the most vulnerable segments of the population (the poorest or the oldest), with lower economic impact and visibility, both worldwide and within a specific country [ 5 ].…”

Making the climate crisis personal through a focus on human health

“…The economic framing of climate change damages to health can also be reoriented to describe the health and financial benefits of climate action (Limaye et al 2020b ). This approach makes clear the financial benefits of climate response policies that reduce adverse (and sometimes irreversible) health impacts and costly medical care in hospitals and emergency rooms.…”

“…Existing research indicates that climate-fueled health impacts are growing in severity and reach, and that investments in reducing carbon pollution and improving community resilience could help to avoid thousands of premature deaths and hospitalizations and tens to hundreds of billions of dollars in climate-sensitive health impacts across the USA each year, including those stemming from extreme heat, drought, air pollution, hurricanes, severe storms, and wildfires (Jay et al 2018 ; Limaye et al 2019 ). Science that explores the underappreciated local physical and mental health risks and health-related costs of climate change (stemming from climate-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths) can enhance advocacy efforts and policy solutions by demonstrating the need to both address the root causes of climate change and enhance climate resilience in vulnerable communities (Limaye et al 2020b ).…”