Evaluating Health Co-benefits of Air Pollution Control and Climate Change Mitigation Policies for Pakistan

Mir, K.A., Purohit, P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7265-6960, Cail, S., & Kim, S. (2021). Evaluating Health Co-benefits of Air Pollution Control and Climate Change Mitigation Policies for Pakistan. In: AGU Fall Meeting, 13-17 December 2021.

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Abstract

The energy-related air pollutants and carbon dioxide emissions often come from the same sources, so an integrated approach to tackling both can have significant co-benefits. At present, Pakistan is confronted with the twin problems of air pollution and climate change. While air pollution and climate change are recognized in the country's environmental protection act and climate change act, there is no integrated national strategy to manage them simultaneously. This study explores the air quality and health benefits in the reference and alternative scenarios through soft coupling an integrated assessment model (GAINS) and a partial equilibrium simulation model of the energy sector (EnerNEO Pakistan). Our findings indicate that current air pollution control measures in Pakistan are not sufficient to achieve the air quality standards in Pakistan under the reference scenario. Implementation of advanced end-of-pipe emission control measures could improve air quality and reduce human health impacts in Pakistan however, when paired with national sustainable development strategies, they could halve greenhouse gas emissions and save on emission control costs by approximately a quarter as compared to the reference scenario by 2050. In addition, the implementation of sustainable development strategies will reduce nationwide PM2.5-related mortalities by nearly a quarter (24%) in 2050 as compared to the reference scenario. This appears to be a significant co-benefit in terms of air quality improvement, reduction in health impacts and air pollution control cost, implying that cost-effective co-control of air pollution and greenhouse gases should be a major consideration in Pakistan’s future policymaking.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Poster)
Research Programs:	Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) > Pollution Management (PM)
Depositing User:	Luke Kirwan
Date Deposited:	15 Dec 2021 09:12
Last Modified:	15 Dec 2021 09:12
URI:	https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/17708

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