Reducing emissions has a measurable impact on global temperatures, lessening heat’s deadly effect on human health. In light of this insight, the Lab developed an interactive tool—the ‘Lives Saved Calculator’—that allows users to quantify how many lives could be saved around the world from reduced emissions within the United States at the town, city, state, and national levels. The tool also measures how much money the global economy would save through avoided costs of adapting to increased mortality risk. This tool provides individuals, non-profits and governments with actionable evidence for change to justify their efforts to combat climate change at every level of government.
Impact
The positive, hopeful message about the tangible benefits of subnational climate action was especially timely when it launched in the spring of 2022, given the dire prospects for federal climate legislation on Capitol Hill. Axios featured the tool at the top of its popular energy and climate newsletter, driving thousands of visitors and building traction on social media. Climate advocacy groups, including Climate Nexus, Climate One, the Environmental Defense Fund, and Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, shared the Lives Saved Calculator with their audiences via emails and social media. Lab communications staff also worked with data journalists at The Guardian on interactive maps and graphics for a story about the calculator that was widely shared and syndicated in U.S. and international outlets.