Development of a Numerical Index as a Framework for Quantifying and Communicating the Health Impacts of Greenhouse Gases

Abstract

Greenhouse gases drive global warming and ultimately Climate change which poses significant health risks worldwide. Existing frameworks, such as Global Warming Potential (GWP) of green house gases, neglect health impacts. The objective of this work was therefore to develop the Climate Change Health Impact Index (CCHII), integrating health effects and GWP. CCHII combines GWP with Health Impact Rating Scale (HIRS), a novel rating system assessing greenhouse gas health impacts. Example calculations of CCHII for CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O yielded CCHII values of 0.06, 1.12, and 21.20, respectively, providing numerical values for health impacts of these prominent green housegases. CCHII provides a numerical index for comparing greenhouse gas health impacts, to potentially support informed policy decisions on greenhouse gases and climate change mitigation strategies. Future refinement of HIRS and CCHII through expert feedback and real-world data will enhance accuracy and applicability.