CGS PhD student Cam Wejnert-Depue will share insights from research on the integration of wellbeing into climate strategies.
Abstract: Carbon Management Technologies (CMTs), including fossil-based CCS novel CDR(including options like BECCS, DACCS, and enhanced weathering), as well as an integration of renewable energy sources, are vital to achieving net-zero emissions targets. While their climate benefits are well understood, the broader impacts on wellbeing are less clear. This study examines the links between mitigation pathways (particularly those that rely on CMT deployment, as well as renewable energy deployment) and economic stability and health, aiming to integrate wellbeing into climate strategy design and highlight both trade-offs and co-benefits. Based on preliminary results from this study, the deployment of CMT and renewable energy for mitigation pathways can influence air quality and job creation, which are critical determinants of wellbeing. Yet few studies explicitly connect these technologies to broader social and economic dimensions of climate policy.
Methodology. IPCC AR6 mitigation pathways (C1 – 1.5°C scenarios, C2 – 1.5°C scenarios with overshoot, and C3 – 2°C scenarios) were analyzed at the R10+ regional level using MESSAGE and REMIND outputs. CMTs were categorized as ‘Fossil CCS’ or ‘Novel CDR’, while renewable energy deployment included in the analysis focused on solar and wind. CMT and renewable energy deployment were calculated cumulatively based on each individual scenario’s net-zero CO₂ target date. Wellbeing indicators included air pollution mortality and energy-sector jobs. Regression and correlation analyses were conducted to identify relationships between technological deployment and wellbeing outcomes. Comparing multiple models highlights areas of convergence and uncertainty, ensuring results are relevant both globally and regionally.
Preliminary Results for CMTs. Fossil CCS was associated with higher air pollution mortality in several regions (see figure 1), suggesting potential health trade-offs when fossil generation continues. Novel CDR results show a positive association with mortality in Europe, India, and North America. Employment outcomes differed: results indicate a positive relationship between fossil CCS deployment and fossil sector jobs, while novel CDR did not provide much of a significant change. Benefits were unevenly distributed, shaped by infrastructure, skills, and economic conditions. These findings emphasize that societal impacts vary across regions, with some benefiting more from CCS and others from novel CDR investments
Conclusions. CMTs and renewable energy influence wellbeing outcomes. For example, fossil CCS may sustain jobs in the fossil sector but harm health, while novel CDR offers cleaner potential yet uneven benefits. Policymakers should weigh these trade-offs to align mitigation with wellbeing goals. Integrating wellbeing provides a clearer view of mitigation pathway trade-offs and helps design climate strategies that not only reduce emissions but also support resilience and opportunity.