Ancillary Benefits of GHG Abatement Policies in Developing Countries: A literature Survey

In this subtask we survey the literature that estimates the ancillary benefits of greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement in developing countries, and the extent to which its findings can be transferred across countries. Specifically, we focus upon the health benefits from emission reduction in developing nations. In order to evaluate the spillovers and indirect benefits that a country could reap from GHG mitigation policies, it is crucial to account for the differences that exist among nations in the valuation of such benefits. In fact, the monetary loss attached to an illness and the value of a human life may vary across cultures, economies and over time, depending on income, demographics, socio-economic and political characteristics of a country. There is a rich literature on valuation techniques that spans much of the developed world, whereas there has been far less analysis of developing countries. The goal of this research is to examine the still relatively scarce literature on the developing world and its specific findings. Particular attention will be dedicated to case studies of China.