Warmer homes and healthier people: what’s not to like about a low-carbon future?
TThe challenges of achieving net zero emissions are often discussed, but little attention is paid to the benefits of living in a low-carbon future. Less burning of fossil fuels means less air pollution, and if the changes are implemented properly, net zero could result in homes that are easier to keep warm and a healthier population that doesn’t walk and cycle every day.
A study has looked at air pollution and the health benefits of net zero changes to our homes, our vehicles and the way we travel.
First, the researchers predicted changes in air pollution due to Britain’s sixth carbon budgetwhich takes into account the speed at which technologies can be scaled up and deployed.
By 2030, just over half of our homes would be well insulated with smart heating controls. Large-scale biomass and wood burning is no longer expected to play a significant role in reaching net zero, with domestic use replaced by heat pumps, district heating networks and some use of hydrogen. By 2030, one in ten homes will use these heating systems. In addition to an increase in the number of electric vehicles and more rural buses, by 2030 active travel, especially cycling and e-biking, will have offset up to 10% of the predicted growth in the economy. road transport.
The researchers calculated the cost benefits of fewer children with asthma, fewer cases of lung cancer, strokes and heart attacks, and fewer people with asthma. dementia. This included lost productivity due to illness and time off to care for sick children.
Due to difficulties in controlling diesel exhaust, we tend to think of traffic as the biggest polluter, but net-zero changes to buildings were found to be three times more effective at reducing particulate pollution than net-zero transport plans. By 2050, the health benefits of air pollution from net zero changes in the construction sector would be £21 billion, while those from road transport would be £9.1 billion. All these gains would be even greater if the effects of nitrogen dioxide reduction were included.
Dr. Sean Beevers from Imperial College Londonwho led the study, said: “Changes to net-zero transport are expected to pay for themselves through lower life-cycle costs, with the benefits of greenhouse gases and air pollution improving matters further. The economic benefits of reducing air pollution play a greater role in justifying a net-zero policy for the construction sector, benefits that would be even greater if indoor air pollution were also taken into account.”
Phasing out gas cooking yields greater gains, especially in homes with improved draft proofing, and these gains were greater than those from controlling some forms of outdoor pollution.
Low-income areas in Britain do persistently higher air pollution. This gap could be closed through early net-zero investment for families in fuel poverty, for families in social housing and the private rental sector, and in areas of greatest poverty.
Prof Christian Brand van the University of Oxfordwho was part of the research team, said: “Swapping just 5-7% of car journeys for e-biking, cycling or walking by 2030 could add 1.1 million years of healthy life by 2050. These benefits come from making people more active, especially in areas where walking and cycling are less common. Furthermore, the greatest gains are being made in underserved communities, reducing health inequalities while reducing carbon emissions.”