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Boosting the Benefits: Improving Air Quality and Health by Reducing Global Warming Pollution in California

Abstract: The California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) provides a significant opportunity to improve air quality and public health in the state. Our new analysis shows that many strategies for combating global warming will reduce air pollution, which lowers health risks. In fact, measures being considered for implementation under AB 32 could prevent more than 700 premature deaths and thousands of other negative health impacts annually, saving $3.2 to $5.0 billion1 in health costs in the year 2020 alone. New evidence of increased health impacts from exposure to particulate matter (PM) suggests that these health benefits and savings may be even greater than estimated here.2 California should adopt these measures to reduce global warming pollution and provide tremendous short- and long-term health “co-benefits” by improving air quality and combating global warming at the same time.

Authors: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Diane Bailey Kim Knowlton Miriam Rotkin-Ellman