Climate Co-Benefits of U.S. Air Quality Regulations on CO2 Emissions

Authors:

Ricky Truong, Veronica Ballerini, Francesca Dominici

Date Created:

2025-01-01

Course Title:

Professor:

Not specified

About Paper:

Growing evidence suggests climate change has direct and indirect To test this, we first analyze U.S. Energy Information negativeimpactsonpublichealth. Limitinggreenhousegasseslike Administration (EIA) data on total CO2 emissions in the U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) is therefore an important concern for many coveringtheyears1970-2017. Then,focusingonthetransportation countries. sector, we analyze National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) data on on-road CO2 emissions at the census block In 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised group level covering the years 1980-2017. We employ causal the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to include inference methods for time series analysis at the county and annual and daily standards for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), with enforcement beginning after nonattainment designations in national levels while leveraging economic, environmental, and 2005. In 2006, the EPA further strengthened the daily standard demographic covariates. At the county level, results show spatial heterogeneity, with a statistically significant reduction in on-road for PM2.5 with the aim of reducing the harmful effects of the air CO2emissionsobservedinmultiplecounties. Atthenationallevel, pollutant. Since CO2 and PM2.5 are emitted from similar sources, the estimated cumulative causal effect is negative and significant such as vehicles and power plants, we hypothesize the effort after controlling for the covariates; over the five years after 2005, to reduce PM2.5 concentration since 2005 yielded unintentional climate benefits by reducing CO2 emissions. weestimatea6.3%reduction(95%CI:[-10%, -2.2%])intotalCO2 emissions.

Abstract:

Growing evidence suggests climate change has direct and indirect To test this, we first analyze U.S. Energy Information negativeimpactsonpublichealth. Limitinggreenhousegasseslike Administration (EIA) data on total CO2 emissions in the U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) is therefore an important concern for many coveringtheyears1970-2017. Then,focusingonthetransportation countries. sector, we analyze National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) data on on-road CO2 emissions at the census block In 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised group level covering the years 1980-2017. We employ causal the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to include inference methods for time series analysis at the county and annual and daily standards for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), with enforcement beginning after nonattainment designations in national levels while leveraging economic, environmental, and 2005. In 2006, the EPA further strengthened the daily standard demographic covariates. At the county level, results show spatial heterogeneity, with a statistically significant reduction in on-road for PM2.5 with the aim of reducing the harmful effects of the air CO2emissionsobservedinmultiplecounties. Atthenationallevel, pollutant. Since CO2 and PM2.5 are emitted from similar sources, the estimated cumulative causal effect is negative and significant such as vehicles and power plants, we hypothesize the effort after controlling for the covariates; over the five years after 2005, to reduce PM2.5 concentration since 2005 yielded unintentional climate benefits by reducing CO2 emissions. weestimatea6.3%reduction(95%CI:[-10%, -2.2%])intotalCO2 emissions.

Source:

Harvard / Harvard College | Leverett House | Statistics | 2028 / 2025

Topics:

co2, emission, pm2, climate, air, national, level, standard, quality, analyze, administration, environmental

Co-authors:

@rickytruong450 , @veronicaballerini451 , @francescadominici452