The health and wellbeing co-benefits of policies and programs to address climate change in urban areas: a scoping review

Abstract

Existing research suggests that a health-centred response to the climate crisis would support immediate and more ambitious action that minimises adverse health outcomes of climate change whilst providing additional co-benefits for population health. This review aimed to identify and assess literature that examines the health and wellbeing co-benefits of climate action in urban areas and to identify potential co-benefits that could be incorporated into policy or programme evaluation. We searched Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science, and screened titles, abstracts, and full-text. Peer-reviewed studies in English were included if they focused on health and wellbeing co-benefits of climate change adaptation and/or mitigation policies and programmes specific to urban areas. Our analysis found that all 39 studies in this review identified positive health and wellbeing co-benefits, with the majority focusing on transport policies and cross-sectoral mitigation and adaptation. All included studies employed a diverse array of modelling methodology, with multiple models and interdisciplinary approaches to evaluate co-benefits. Co-benefits ranged from reduced or avoided mortality and morbidity to social and economic health benefits. The degree of co-benefits differed according to the policies themselves; the policy sector; and vulnerability, demographic and/or geographic factors. Nine studies identified negative trade-offs of climate action. The review’s findings add to existing literature in support of the value and importance of assessing the health and wellbeing co-benefits of climate action. The review also highlights the need for further identification and quantification of a comprehensive set of health and wellbeing co-benefits, improved data reporting and granularity, as well as research evaluating the impact of climate action that considers how vulnerability, demographic, geographic or other factors interact with policy implementation. This research is critical in informing the cost-effective prioritisation and coordination of climate policies that maximise human health benefits and promote health equity by minimising trade-offs for vulnerable groups.