Benefits of tackling air pollution and climate change simultaneously: To achieve a given target in ambient air quality, China can dramatically save costs by adopting a smart mix of measures to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The left column shows the most cost effective way for halving negative health impacts from air pollution using only air pollution control measures. The right column shows how much more cheaply the same target can be reached using measures to lower air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously. This cost saving measures also result in a 9 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Measures exist that simultaneously reduce emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases.

In many cases emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases are emitted from the same sources. Thus, controls directed at air pollutants frequently affect greenhouse gas emissions, and vice versa. The GAINS model provides an integrated perspective that can maximize synergies between air pollution control and greenhouse gas mitigation strategies.

Strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can dramatically lower air pollution control costs.

For achieving given targets on ambient air quality, the cost of air pollution can be further reduced by adopting certain low carbon measures. GAINS demonstrates that the additional costs of climate-friendly measures, e.g., energy efficiency improvements, co-generation of heat and power, fuel substitution, integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants, etc., are more than compensated for by savings in air pollution control equipment.

A smart mix of measures to simultaneously cut air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions will help combat climate change and air pollution more cheaply than tackling either issue separately.

GAINS demonstrates that low carbon strategies result in lower emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and fine particulate matter (PM) at no additional costs. For China, India and Europe GAINS estimates that each percent of CO₂ reduction will typically reduce health impacts from fine particulate (PM) air pollution by 1%. This is important information for judging the net benefits of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies. GAINS also shows that, by selecting a smart mix of measures to simultaneously cut air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, China can almost halve air pollution control costs as well as lower greenhouse gas emissions by 9 % (see figure).

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