What happens to people’s health when air pollution is reduced?

Growing evidence that cutting coal use and bans on high-polluting vehicles are leading directly to health benefits

Failing crops, wildfires and overloaded health systems are focusing minds on the local impacts of our changing climate.

While carbon emissions reduction is normally framed as having a global benefit rather than a local gain, studies published in 2025 and 2026 from Greece have added to growing evidence that cutting coal use and air pollution can provide immediate health benefits to local communities.

Through the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st, West Macedonia became Europe’s leading area for lignite mining. Much of this poor-quality coal was burned in the region’s six power stations. In 2005 these supplied about 60% of Greece’s electricity.

Shutting mines and the clean-up and closure of power stations provided an opportunity to study what happens to people’s health when air pollution is reduced.