Clean energy transitions and health

Abstract

Clean energy can lead to significant health benefits. Making it accessible throughout the world can address many ills. We delve deeply into one example—the transition toward clean residential heating and its relationship to health benefits—in China. We find that the health benefits can outweigh costs from energy expenses in northern provinces. Low-income households enjoy larger health benefits but also experience a higher expense increase, suggesting that extra subsidies or stimuli are needed to help them benefit from clean energy. Our findings suggest that clean energy transitions should be promoted in developing economies due to improved social health, lessened medical costs, and significant environmental improvements.