Research: Climate action can have positive impact on economic, social wellbeing of cities

by Brianna Crandall — January 4, 2016—Following the historic climate deal agreed upon at COP21 in Paris, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) launched new research highlighting the wide range of economic and social benefits arising from city climate action. With cities setting the pace and scope of climate action until the COP21 agreement comes into force in 2020, the research is intended to help mayors and city leaders win the political argument for taking urgent and ambitious climate action.

The report demonstrates that green actions not only help prevent climate change or protect the city from the effects of climate change, but can also have a positive impact on the economic and social wellbeing of urban citizens. Such benefits include job creation, improved air quality, better health and reduced congestion. DAMVAD Analytics conducted the research with the support of Realdania, the City of Copenhagen, and C40.

The report assesses the co-benefits of a range of climate actions in cities across the world: Bus Rapid Transit in Bogotá and Istanbul; congestion charges in London and Stockholm; LED street lights in Los Angeles and Sydney; green areas in Copenhagen; and eco-roofs in Portland.

For example, the benefits of London’s congestion charge, including fewer accidents, reduced travel time, and improved local air quality, are valued at 180 million USD per year. The report also gives an overview of various methods that can be used by cities to measure the co-benefits of climate action.

The research was performed within the scope of the C40 Green Growth Network and presented at the recent Network workshop in Copenhagen.

The findings of this report will feed into further research on co-benefits, led by C40 and supported by Danish multinational pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which started the Cities Changing Diabetes program in 2014. Novo Nordisk and C40 have formed a research-based partnership aimed at establishing that green policies in cities are beneficial to both the state of the environment and the health of urban citizens.

The collaboration will see the organizations’ expertise and specialist knowledge combine to generate new insights on a range of co-benefits of climate action – in particular the health of city populations.

The organizations note that many cities are already taking action, from bike share programs to adaptation efforts that lessen the impact of floods and heatwaves. The research will help city leaders to build a case for other specific climate actions that will have the greatest impact on both emission reductions and improved health and prosperity.