Health co-benefits of green recovery in cities in China

Abstract

The compounding environmental, economic, societal and health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic challenges the global endeavor to climate change and energy transition. The call for “green” recovery is unprecedently aiming to bring economies out of recession while also positively benefiting the environment. However, limited research has investigated the green recovery process during the post-COVID period.  This study explored the green recovery process defined by the increase of gross domestic product (GDP) and reduction of carbon emissions of 36 cities in China and the factors contributing to the green recovery in cities as well as potential health co-benefits of green recovery on cities during the post-COVID period (April1,2020-December 31, 2021) based on exposure-response function. We found that 8 (Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Haikou, Chengdu and Xian) out of 36 cities have achieved green recovery. During the post-COVID period, the mean Particular matter 2.5 (PM2.5) concentration has dropped 22.9%-26.7% relative to the pre-COVID period and avoided 49816 (95% CI: 29044- 88977) premature deaths attributable to PM2.5 exposure. The green recovery cities average avoid 2 persons per 1000 people during the post-COVID period. This research implies that the green recovery is happening in cities in China and could bring multi-benefits and the investment in green recovery can be offset by the health co-benefits. For cities that haven’t achieved green recovery, developing more green recovery policies is necessary.