The Ancillary Benefits from Climate Policy in the United States

This study investigates the benefits to human health that would occur in the United States (US) due to reductions in local air pollutant emissions stemming from a federal policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In order to measure the impacts of reduced emissions of local pollutants, this study considers the Warner-Lieberman bill (S.2191) of 2007 and the paper considers the impacts of reduced emissions in the transport and electric power sectors. This analysis provides strong evidence that climate change policy in the US will generate significant returns to society in excess of the benefits due to climate stabilization. The total health-related co-benefits associated with a representative climate policy over the years 2010–2030 range between $103 billion and $1.2 trillion in present value terms. Much of the co-benefit stems from between 32,000 and 189,000 avoided premature mortalities associated with exposure to PM2.5 and O3. Most of the co-benefits are due to reduced emissions of SO2 from coal-fired power plants since these are an important contribution to ambient concentrations of PM2.5. Among the most important determinants of co-benefits is the relationship between climate policy and existing policies governing SO2 discharges from coal-fired power generation capacity. If SO2 emissions are permitted to remain at current levels, total co-benefits are cut by 65%. We find that the co-benefit per ton of CO2 emissions ranges between $1 and $77 depending on modeling assumptions and year.