Naidoo, MogeshPerumal, SarishaJohn, JuanetteThambiran, TirushaMccall, BCunliffe, G2024-11-112024-11-112024-10http://hdl.handle.net/10204/13800From previous research and subsequent policy globally, it is clear there are significant co-benefits to a country transitioning towards a Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions profile. A significant co-benefit is improved air quality. Reducing GHG emissions often (though not always) lead to a decrease in air pollutants as well. The energy sector encompasses electricity generation, industrial processes and transportation and is a key contributor to GHG emissions, especially in South Africa. This paper presents research done for the Presidential Climate Commission that estimated the air quality co-benefits of two potential pathways for transitioning the South African energy sector to Net Zero GHG emissions. First, realistic pathways were derived, and an energy systems model developed to quantify the GHG and air pollutant emissions impacts. This was achieved through the Energy Systems Research Group national energy model, built on their SATIMGE framework. The energy model provided the necessary scaling factors which were subsequently applied to a gridded air pollutant emissions inventory that fed into an air quality model run by the CSIR Climate and Air Quality Modelling group. Air quality model output provided the anticipated changes in ambient concentrations over the model domain between the two scenarios and a reference case. These changes in concentrations were further translated into health impacts, namely a reduction in premature mortality due to air quality. This research quantifies potential air quality benefits while demonstrating an approach and the methodology for developing robust emission scenarios that are applicable to relevant policies and sectors.FulltextenNet ZeroEnergyModellingHealth impactsGreenhouse gasGHGGHG emissionsClimatic health impactsConference Presentationn/a