Climate, Clean Air and Health: the Economic Case for Action

Reducing air pollution and climate pollutants represents one of the most immediate opportunities to protect human health while advancing climate goals and driving economic growth. Actions to reduce super pollutants such as methane and black carbon can rapidly slow warming while significantly reducing the global burden of disease linked to air pollution. These health benefits reduce pressures on health systems and improve labour productivity, supporting economic growth.

This event will bring together ministers and philanthropic leaders to explore how climate, air quality and health priorities can be advanced together through practical implementation, investment, and international cooperation.  

Participants will exchange perspectives on scaling solutions across key sectors including waste management, agriculture, energy, industry, the built environment, transport, and cooling, where action can deliver immediate benefits for climate, clean air and public health.

The discussion will draw attention to the health and economic co-benefits of the UK’s climate policies, as demonstrated in new analysis from the Clean Air Fund and CBI Economics, due to be published in June 2026. It will also help build momentum ahead of the launch of the UNEP-CCAC Spotlight report Global Economic Assessment of Climate and Clean Air, which will further highlight the significant economic and health returns from rapid action to reduce air pollution and super pollutants. The event will provide an opportunity for leaders to reflect on how the findings of both new pieces of research can help strengthen the case for integrated climate and health action and support greater ambition on both air pollution and super pollutant mitigation on the road to COP31.

The event will aim to:

• Elevate climate, air quality and health linkages within policy and international cooperation
• Highlight the UK’s leadership and progress on supporting climate and health
• Platform the findings from the Clean Air Fund and CBI Economics new research into the health and economic co-benefits of UK Net Zero policies
• Build momentum ahead of the CCAC-UNEP Global Economic Assessment of Climate and Clean Air
• Identify opportunities to scale high-impact actions that simultaneously reduce air pollution and climate pollutants
• Strengthening collaboration between governments, development agencies, and philanthropic partners
• Highlight practical pathways for integrating clean air and health benefits into climate decision-making and investment strategies