Health Impacts of Low-carbon Transport in Cities

Urban transport is a major contributor to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and associated health risks. It can disproportionately affect vulnerable groups while driving up healthcare costs. Addressing these challenges is crucial to creating liveable, equitable and sustainable cities.

Ambitious low-carbon transport measures can drastically cut emissions, save trillions of life years, and slash healthcare costs by hundreds of billions annually. Yet health is rarely considered as part of transport policy making.

This report promotes a transition to low-carbon mobility that prioritises environmental goals and human well-being. By evaluating low-carbon policy scenarios, the report offers evidence-based recommendations for policy makers to integrate health into transport and urban planning. It features insights to invest in active and public transport infrastructure and equity-centred approaches to urban development. It is a roadmap for creating sustainable cities that are healthier, safer, and more inclusive.