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BLOG: Reduce Methane Emisisons to Produce Public Health and Climate Benefits

Prepared by Kim Perrotta MHSc, May 15, 2021

A new UN report, Global Methane Assessment, notes that the most cost-effective way to limit global warming to 1.5°C can also produce significant and immediate public health benefits.

Climate Benefits

The concentration of methane in the atmosphere has been rapidly increasing since the 1980s. Methane, which is the main component in natural gas, is a short-lived climate emission that stays in the atmosphere for about 10 years.  But it is also a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) that is many times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a warming agent.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified a 40 to 45% reduction in global methane emissions by 2030 (i.e., about 180 million tonnes per year) as the most cost-effective strategy for limiting global warming to 1.5°C.  Because methane is a short-lived but potent GHG, reduced emissions can rapidly reduce the rate of global warming and help limit dangerous climate feedback loops. This strategy would also produce significant and immediate public health benefits.

Public Health Benefits

The UN report notes that methane is a precursor for ground-level ozone, a common air pollutant that increases emergency room visits, hospital admissions and premature deaths.  On a global scale, approximately 500,000 premature deaths per year can be attributed to air pollution resulting from methane emissions related to human activities.

The UN assessment found that every million tonnes (Mt) of methane reduced:

  • Prevents approximately 1,430 air pollution-related premature deaths per year; 740 from respiratory disease and 690 from cardiovascular disease;
  • Prevents approximately 4,000 asthma-related accident and emergency room visits and 90 hospital admissions per year;
  • Avoids losses of 145,000 tonnes of wheat, soybeans, maize and rice due to ozone exposure every year;  
  • Avoids the loss of about 300 million hours of work globally due to extreme heat each year.

In North America, where it is estimated that 34.7 million tons (Mt) of methane are being emitted each year from human activities, methane emissions may be responsible for up to 49,000 premature deaths and 139,000 asthma-related emergency room visits each year from air pollution alone.

Click to keep reading. 
 

LETTER: TO FEDERAL MINISTERS re: Key Ideas for Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program. Prepared by CHASE with CPHA and OPHA. May 5, 2021. Click Here.
 

MEDIA HIT: Health groups ask Liberals to ensure climate spending helps low-income families. Carl Meyer, National Observer. April 6, 2021 Click here.
 


BLOG: Air Pollution Responsible for 1 in 5 Deaths Globally. Prepared by Kim Perrotta. April 15, 2021  Click here
 


Press Release: Civil Society Reacts to Canada’s Newly Announced Federal Climate Target.  Prepared by Climate Action Network Canada. April 22, 2021. Click Here.
 

PRESENTATION: Improving Health and Health Equity While Fighting Climate Change. Presented by Kim Perrotta at the Public Health Youth Association of Canada Health Policy Hackathon. April 10, 2021. Click Here
 

RESOURCES - Invest in a Healthy, Green & Just Recovery.  Prepared by CHASE, the CPHA and the OPHA. February to April 2021

Renewable Energy - Health & Health Equity Benefits
En Blog & Fr Blog
En Backgrounder (8 pages) & En Factsheet (4 pages)
Fr Backgrounder (10 pages) & Fr Factsheet (4 pages)
.

Building Retrofits - Healthy & Health Equity Benefits
Eng Blog & Fr Blog
Eng Factsheet (3 pages) & Engl Backgrounder (5 pages)
Fr Factsheet & Fr Backgrounder.

Zero Emission Vehicles - Health & Healthy Equnity Benefits 
En Blog & Fr Blog
En Factsheet (3-pages) & En Backgrounder (6-pages)
Fr Factsheet & Fr Backgrounder.

Active Transportation - Health & Health Equity Benefits. 
En Blog & Fr Blog
Eng Factsheet (3 pages) & Eng Backgrounder (5 pages)
Fr Factsheet Fr Backgrounder

Public Transit - Health & Health Equity Benefits . 
En Blog.Fr Blog
En Factsheet (3 pages)En Backgrounder (6 pages)
Fr Factsheet & Fr Backgrounder

 

LETTER: To Federal Ministers re: Canada's Updated Climate Action Plan - A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy.

From the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA), Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) and CHASE.  Feb 8, 2021.  Click here. 

 

OP-ED:  COVID-19 Recovery can Help in Climate Crisis. Hamilton Spectator, June 23, 2020. Dr. Charles Gardner, MOH for SMDHU, Ian Culbert, Executive Director for CPHA, Kim Perrotta, Executive Director for CHASE. Click here.
 

OP-ED:  Green Investment and Resilient Communities Lead to a Brighter Future. Hamilton Spectator, April 20, 2020. Kim Perrotta, CHASE Executive Director. Click Here.
 
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