Building on existing climate policies like the Inflation Reduction Act, an all-of-society approach to climate action will prevent 5,400 annual deaths in 2030 and 63,600 deaths between 2024 to 2035
The three states with the biggest potential reduction in premature deaths from an all-in strategy are West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Today at COP28, America is All In published a report demonstrating that an all-of-society climate approach – integrating federal climate policy with actions from states, cities, communities, and businesses to cut net emissions by 50-52% by 2030 – will deliver improved air quality and health benefits in every U.S. state and nearly every U.S. county.
Exposure to air pollution, specifically ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with 30,000 to 200,000 premature deaths annually in the United States. By assessing air quality impacts using an air quality model paired with and an integrated assessment model, the All-In Climate Action for Improved Air Quality and Health Benefits report led by the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland and the School of Public and International Affairs and the Andlinger Center for Energy at the Environment at Princeton University demonstrates that climate-smart implementation of policies like the Inflation Reduction Act can help reduce premature deaths due to air pollution by nearly 3,300 annual deaths in 2030 and nearly 35,800 fewer deaths from 2024 to 2035.
"Air pollution from our dependence on fossil fuels is the root cause of our global health and climate crisis — not to mention the greatest threat to our children’s future,” said Gina McCarthy, Managing Co-Chair of America is All In and former White House national climate advisor. “Investing in the transition to clean energy is not just the best way to save lives, it is the best way to save families money, grow good paying jobs, and support communities most in need. If you need proof - just look at what has happened in the U.S. since the Inflation Reduction Act passed. The US has tripled its average annual spending on climate and clean energy and turbocharged our climate action at the federal, state, and local levels."
“Our research shows current policies can go a long way in preventing premature deaths from air pollution. If we combine them with additional actions from state and local governments, including improving industrial sector regulations to clean up industrial processes; securing the transition away from coal; and accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, we can turbocharge pollution reduction efforts in a dramatic way. An all-in approach to addressing air pollution will improve air quality for Americans everywhere in the country,” said Ryna Cui, Research Director at the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland.
Key findings of the report include:
- An all-of-society approach to achieving U.S. climate goals—integrating federal policies from Congress and the Executive Branch Agencies with actions from states, cities, businesses, and communities—can realize improved air quality and health benefits across every state and in nearly every county in the United States.
- Implementing climate-smart policies including full implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act coupled with non-federal actions like setting state-level renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and electric vehicle (EV) sales targets can reduce premature deaths attributable to air pollution by nearly 3,300 deaths annually in 2030 and can have a cumulative impact of nearly 35,800 fewer deaths from 2024 to 2035 compared to no climate action.
- Building on these current policies, an all-of-society approach will further reduce premature deaths, with an estimated 5,400 fewer annual deaths in 2030 and a cumulative impact of nearly 63,600 fewer deaths from 2024 to 2035 compared to no climate action.
- An all-of-society approach will result in improved air quality and health benefits across every state and nearly every county in the United States. Climate-smart implementation reduces deaths attributed to PM2.5 in 2030 by 10-15% in most states, with the largest reductions in West Virginia (18%), Maryland (15%), and Pennsylvania (15%).
- Under an all-of-society approach, nearly every county in America will experience reductions in premature deaths related to PM2.5—more than 5% in two-thirds of counties and more than 10% in one-third of counties. The additional benefits of an enhanced all-of-society approach are particularly large in the Greater Los Angeles area, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Seattle metropolitan area.
- Actions such as transitioning away from coal power to renewable energy, adopting electric vehicles, and enhancing energy efficiency across all sectors can significantly decrease air pollutants, leading to substantial health co-benefits across the U.S.
Michael R. Bloomberg, U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions and Founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, said: “By integrating federal climate policy with actions taken by states, cities, communities, and businesses, we can dramatically cut emissions in this decade, which will save and improve countless lives. As this report makes clear, the most effective way to reach our goal is through an all-of-society approach that both improves the quality of our air and strengthens economic growth.”
Governor Jay Inslee said: “It’s clear that an-all-of-society approach is the key to decreasing air pollution, reducing our emissions, and fulfilling our climate promises. This report emphasizes that we need local, state, and federal governments to work hand in hand with businesses and institutions to secure cleaner air for our communities. In my state alone, the legislature continues to work hand in hand with businesses and communities on implementing smart climate policies that will fulfill our commitment of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050.”
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said: “Today’s report shows how ambitious federal legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act combined with local actions can help deliver cleaner air in cities and states across the U.S. By being “all in” on climate action, we can continue building on this success and keep dramatically reducing the air pollution impacting so many of our communities. In Charlotte, the Sustainable and Resilient Charlotte by 2050 resolution puts forward an ambitious agenda for every industry in our city to pitch in and help us become a low carbon city by 2050.”
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About America Is All In
America Is All In is the most expansive coalition of leaders ever assembled in support of climate action in the United States. Mobilizing thousands of U.S. cities, states, tribal nations, businesses, schools, and faith, health, and cultural institutions, the coalition is focused on pushing and partnering with the federal government to develop an ambitious, all-in national climate strategy that meets the urgency of the climate crisis; scaling climate action around the country to accelerate the transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy; and promoting the leadership of non-federal actors on the world stage.
Led by the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions Michael R. Bloomberg, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Apple Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives Lisa Jackson, and former White House National Climate Advisor and 13th U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy, America Is All In, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, is driving a nationwide movement to cut U.S. emissions in half or more by 2030 from 2005 levels and reach net zero emissions by 2050, while guarding against the impacts of climate disruption.
Alongside whole-of-government action on climate, America Is All In champions a whole-of-society mobilization to deliver the transformational change that science demands, with the goal of a healthy, prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future. To learn more or get involved, visit www.americaisallin.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2022, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed US$ 1.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
About the Center for Global Sustainability (CGS):
Through world-leading research and policy engagement, the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland seeks to change the way that governments, businesses, and people see possibilities for ambitious climate action. Founded in 2016 in response to the need for research and thought leadership, analysis, and engagement to support the achievement of global climate goals, its programs advance understanding to support ambitious national and subnational climate strategies, fossil phase-out, energy innovation, finance, and other priorities in the United States, China, Indonesia, India, Brazil, and other major economies. CGS works with a rich community of collaborators around the world. CGS is housed within the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. Learn more at cgs.umd.edu.
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