Health Impacts of Low-carbon Transport in Cities: Evidence for Better Policies

Key messages

• Low-carbon mobility is healthy and cost-effective

Transitioning to low-carbon transport reduces greenhouse gas emissions and also significantly improves public health, for example, by encouraging active mobility and lowering air pollution levels. These improvements contribute to decreased health-care expenditures, with the potential to balance investment costs in the long run.

• Urgent need for integrated, cross-sectoral policies

Health and transport sectors need more integrated strategies to support healthier, low-carbon urban mobility solutions. Coordinated actions can achieve better health outcomes while meeting climate targets.

• Equity and inclusion cannot be an afterthought for healthy mobility planning

Vulnerable groups, including women, older adults, and low-income households often experience higher exposure to urban health risks and barriers to mobility. Addressing these disparities is critical to creating healthy, inclusive, liveable, low-carbon cities.