The role of health co-benefits in the development of climate change mitigation policies in Australia, the European Union, China and the United States

The role of health co-benefits in the development of climate change mitigation policies in Australia, the European Union, China and the United States

Monday, 26 November 2018 - 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Governments are yet to commit to action on climate change commensurate to the likelihood and severity of predicted impacts. The human health consequences of a changing climate are substantial, already being felt and will be exacerbated without ambitious and urgent action. Acting to mitigate climate change can result in ancillary benefits – or co-benefits. Numerous studies have estimated the monetised value of a range of health co-benefits that may result from the implementation of mitigation measures. Health co-benefits can partially, if not fully, offset abatement costs, providing a strong economic rationale for ambitious climate action. Research investigating the role of health co-benefits in the development of climate change mitigation policies is limited. To address this gap, I developed case studies for Australia and the European Union and analysed Chinese and American climate change policy documents to examine whether health co-benefits are considered in the development of climate change mitigation policies. I identified barriers to the consideration of health co-benefits as well as opportunities to enhance their role, and gained insights about health and the policy development process that may be useful in promoting the development of comparatively ambitious climate change mitigation policies.

Event Location: 
Australian-German Climate and Energy College
Level 1, 187 Grattan Street, University of Melbourne
3010 Parkville , VIC
Victoria
Videos
Speakers

Background

Annabelle Workman completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne in 2008, majoring in Politics and Chinese. In her Honours year, she investigated China's environmental policies in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics. After completing her studies, Annabelle worked at the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for five years in clinical practice guidelines and research translation. While at NHMRC, Annabelle commenced a Postgraduate Diploma in Environments (Public Health), which she completed in 2014. Over the past decade, she has lived on campus at Queen’s College, mentoring and tutoring both undergraduate and graduate students. During her PhD candidature, Annabelle guest lectured in several Masters subjects. She completed her PhD in August 2019 and is eager to pursue opportunities to develop climate change policies that account for health impacts and co-benefits.

PhD Project: The role of health co-benefits in the development of climate change mitigation policies in Australia, the European Union, China and the United States

The vast majority of governments are yet to commit to climate action commensurate with the severity of predicted health and other impacts. Health co-benefits – the ancillary benefits to health that result from the implementation of mitigation policies - can provide a strong rationale for ambitious action, yet research investigating their influence on policy is limited. Annabelle developed case studies for Australia and the European Union and analysed Chinese and American documents to examine the role of health co-benefits in the development of climate change mitigation policies. In doing so, she identified barriers as well as opportunities to enhance their political traction. 

Department/School/Faculty/Other affiliations: School of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science

Supervisors: 

1. David Karoly (50%)

2. John Wiseman (25%)

3. Grant Blashki (25%)

4. Kathryn Bowen (external supervisor)

Publications:

Workman, A.Blashki, G., Karoly, D., Wiseman, J. (2016), The Role of Health Co-Benefits in the Development of Australian Climate Change Mitigation Policies, Int J Environ Res Public Health, 13(9): 927. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13090927

Workman, A.Blashki, G., Bowen, K.J., Karoly, D.J., Wiseman, J. (2018), The political economy of health co-benefits: Embedding health in the climate change agenda. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 15(4): 674. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15040674

Workman, A.Blashki, G., Bowen, K.J., Karoly, D.J., Wiseman, J. (2018), Health Co-Benefits and the Development of Climate Change Mitigation Policies in the European Union, Climate Policy, Nov 14; 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2018.1544541

Web tools and Projects we developed

  • Open-NEM

    The live tracker of the Australian electricity market.

  • Paris Equity Check

    This website is based on a Nature Climate Change study that compares Nationally Determined Contributions with equitable national emissions trajectories in line with the five categories of equity outlined by the IPCC.

  • liveMAGICC Climate Model

    Run one of the most popular reduced-complexity climate carbon cycle models online. Used by IPCC, UNEP GAP reports and numerous scientific publications.

  • NDC & INDC Factsheets

    Check out our analysis of all the post-2020 targets that countries announced under the Paris Agreement.