Health Co-Benefits and Impacts of Transitioning from Fossil-Fuel Based to Cleaner Energy Sources in Higher-Income Countries: What Do We Know?

摘要

Background: It is hypothesised that transitioning from traditional fossil fuel use to cleaner energy sources will have significant environmental benefits and health co-benefits related to reduced air pollution. However, little is understood with regard to potential adverse health impacts of new energy forms. Aim: To systematically synthesise current research that examined shifts to cleaner energy sources with specific consideration of health co-benefits. Method: Systematic search of PubMed, Medline and EMBASE databases and hand-searching for peer-reviewed studies published in English to 24 January 2018. Inclusion criteria: energy use or energy transition related to health outcomes or co-benefits; epidemiological, health impact assessment, modelling or hypothesised. Results: Of 5031 articles found, 58 original research and 14 review papers were considered. Few papers explicitly considered health benefits of energy transitions other than climate change scenarios. Papers were in key areas: biofuels; photovoltaic (PV) cells (solar panels); wind turbines; electrification of vehicles; modelling climate change policies; increased or decreased energy consumption and improved air quality; econometric modelling; and improved residential energy efficiency. Key findings were 1) biofuels, electric cars, PV cells and wind turbines may produce lower levels of air pollutants but there may be health risks associated with their production, use or disposal that needs to be incorporated in the overall assessment of health effects; and 2) environmental justice issues arise when an inequitable health burden is placed on poorer communities living near sites of electricity production while wealthier sectors benefit from newer technologies which are currently expensive e.g. electric vehicles. Conclusion: The degree of health benefit varies with the energy technology type. There is a need for targeted health impact assessments that incorporate life cycle assessment of newer energy technologies.