Table A4.7: Schedule of possible environmental effects identified in relation to human health

Energy demand

Health effects arising from household damp and cold

Increased pressure

Immediate

Ongoing and likely to increase as emission prices rises. Offset to some extent by NZEECS measures but price effects felt more broadly.

High
Negative

Energy demand

Health impacts arising from changes in ambient and indoor air quality due to fuel switching to wood

Uncertain to decreased pressure

Immediate–early

Health effects follow from effects on air quality (see previous table). Reduced use of flueless gas heaters may improve indoor air quality.

Moderate
Uncertain to positive

Energy demand, transport

Health effects arising from changes in local air quality due to reduced use of fossil fuels

Decreased pressure

Immediate–medium

Ongoing and likely to increase as emission prices rises, though increase tapering off as fossil fuel share of energy use falls

Low–moderate
Positive

Transport

Increased use of active modes (walking and cycling)

Decreased pressure

Medium term

Ongoing and likely to increase as emission price rises, while fossil fuels dominant transport fuels. Initial effects small and possibly further reduced by measures that improve fuel economy.

Low–moderate
Positive

Transport

Health impacts of air quality changes due to increased use of biofuels

Uncertain

Early

Ongoing, determined initially by biofuels sales obligation (BSO). Biodiesel effects on air quality are largely positive while the impact of bioethanol/petrol blends is less obvious. Balance of effects will depend in part on the balance between these that is adopted to meet the BSO.

Moderate–high
Uncertain

Transport

Increased pressure for larger trucks to improve road freight fuel efficiency, raising possible safety issues

Increased pressure

Early–medium

The effect of ETS-plus on this issue is likely to be very low in the short-term, as other factors are expected to dominate fuel price changes.

Low
Negative