Low-Carbon Economies for Public Health: Policies and Co-Health Benefits

Against the backdrop of intensifying global climate change and the post-pandemic imperative to build resilient societies, the transition to a low-carbon economy has moved beyond a purely environmental or energy-security concern to become a pivotal determinant of population health. The World Health Organization identifies climate change as the single greatest health threat of the 21st century. Yet many measures designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions deliver substantial and immediate health gains — “co-benefits” — that can offset mitigation costs and generate broad societal value. These co-benefits arise through cleaner air as fossil fuel combustion declines, increased physical activity from active mobility, healthier low-carbon diets, and stronger social cohesion. The magnitude of these gains, however, is uneven: it depends on which sectors decarbonize first, how heavy industries such as steel, cement, and chemicals manage their transition, whether households adopt low-carbon behaviors, and how readily the public accepts new low-carbon technologies. Realizing the health potential of decarbonization therefore requires a precise understanding of how low-carbon transitions interact with complex socio-technical and health systems, rather than general appeals to climate action.This Research Topic examines how low-carbon transitions can be designed to maximize public health gains, using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as an integrating framework rather than a set of isolated targets. We seek research that elucidates the synergistic pathways linking decarbonization to the 2030 Agenda — particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Contributions should show how transforming energy systems and high-emission industries can advance health equity and universal energy access at the same time. By integrating analyses of resident behavior, technology acceptance, and policy evaluation, we aim to identify where climate, health, and development objectives reinforce one another rather than compete. The collection will provide empirical evidence on how low-carbon economies can operationalize the SDGs, offering actionable intelligence for policymakers designing interventions across these intersecting goals.This Research Topic welcomes contributions that advance a holistic understanding of the health co-benefits of low-carbon transitions, bridging environmental sustainability, economic policy, and public health. We encourage authors to address, but are not limited to:Energy system transformation: public health implications of shifting from fossil-fuel-based to renewable-dominated energy systems.High-carbon industrial decarbonization: the nexus between emission-reduction strategies in heavy industries (steel, cement, chemicals) and occupational or community health outcomes.Residential low-carbon behavior: drivers, barriers, and societal impacts of household low-carbon consumption and lifestyle change.Low-carbon technology acceptance: how public perception and adoption of low-carbon technologies shape health-positive transition pathways.Integrated low-carbon policy assessment: design and impact of policies that harmonize climate mitigation with health equity and well-being.Health system responses: health systems as strategic actors in promoting and adapting to low-carbon economies within the SDG framework. Topic editors: Yongyang Wang, Feng Liu, Xiaoran Hou, Lei Chen, Xiuming Zhang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86240/low-carbon-economies-for-public-health-policies-and-co-health-benefits