Air Pollution Co-Benefits Associated with the Health Climate and Family Security Act of 2014

This study estimates the air quality co-benefits that would accrue from implementation of the Healthy Climate and Family Security Act of 2014. Reducing carbon emissions as mandated by the Act will cut emissions of hazardous air pollutants, too. Benefits of improved air quality include fewer premature deaths, lower incidence of respiratory and other diseases, fewer days lost from work and school, and reduced damages to infrastructure and ecosystems. We estimate that between 2016 and 2050, the Act would prevent 700 thousand premature deaths, an average of 20 thousand per year. We estimate that reduced illness burdens from the Act would prevent 90 million lost work days, 89 million lost school days, and 43 million cases of asthma exacerbation over this period. The monetized air quality benefits from 2016 to 2050 are estimated at $2.0-$5.7 trillion dollars, an average of $56-$160 billion per year.