200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a-a01e19699249480d.pdf

This policy brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) explains the critical links between air pollution, human health, and climate change. It argues that prioritizing the immediate health benefits of reducing air pollutants can drive the policy changes necessary to achieve the IPCC's 1.5°C warming goal. The document highlights the role of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) and introduces the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) and Integrated Benefits Calculator (IBC) as tools for cities and countries to plan integrated emission reduction strategies.

• Reducing short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs)—specifically methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons—is essential to meet the IPCC 1.5°C goal. Coordinated action on these pollutants could prevent more than 0.5°C of warming by 2050. Specifically, the IPCC suggests a need for a 70-80% reduction in hydrofluorocarbons and approximately a 35% reduction in methane and black carbon emissions by 2030.
• Air pollution has a severe impact on global health, with premature death estimates varying by source: the Global Burden of Disease project attributed 4.9 million premature deaths to air pollution in 2017, while the World Health Organization estimated 7 million in 2016.
• Research by the Stockholm Environment Institute indicates that outdoor exposure to PM2.5 is linked to significant health issues. In 2010, an estimated 2.7 million pre-term births (18% of all pre-term births globally) were associated with PM2.5. Furthermore, in 2015, PM2.5 was linked to 3.7-7.3 million asthma-related emergency room visits, and tropospheric ozone was linked to 3.3-8.5 million visits.
• There is a strong synergy between climate and health policies because most processes that produce greenhouse gases also produce air pollutants. For example, reducing methane provides a triple benefit for agriculture, health (by reducing tropospheric ozone), and climate change. Similarly, reducing black carbon benefits both climate and health by reducing PM2.5 components like nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide.
• Cities are critical focal points for integrated planning because they are responsible for 60-70% of global GHG emissions and are where the majority of health impacts from outdoor air pollution occur.
• The Stockholm Environment Institute developed the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) and Integrated Benefits Calculator (IBC) to help policymakers quantify the impacts of different measures on air pollutants and GHGs. The IBC specifically allows users to assess how emission changes affect PM2.5 concentrations and subsequent impacts on human health and agriculture.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). 200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a-a01e19699249480d.pdf. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. 200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a-a01e19699249480d.pdf. n.d. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a-a01e19699249480d.pdf |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutend200907adixonkuylenstiernaairpollutionhealthpb2007aa01e19699249480dpdf, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a-a01e19699249480d.pdf}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }