An Alternative Co-Benefit Framework Prioritizing Health Impacts: Potential Air Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation Pathways through Energy Sector Fuel Substitution in South Korea

South Korea had the highest annual average PM2.5 exposure levels in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2019, air pollution is consistently ranked as citizens’ top environmental concern. also one of world’s ten emitter countries CO2. Co-benefit mitigation policies can address both climate change. Utilizing an alternative co-benefit approach, which views reduction primary goal change secondary, this research conducts a scenario analysis to forecast health benefits fuel substitution Korea’s electricity generation sector. Health are calculated by avoided premature mortality years life lost (YLL) due ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI). The study finds that use liquefied natural gas (LNG) instead coal over 2022–2050 period would result 116 fewer deaths (1152 YLL) 80.8 MTCO2e emissions per year. Over same period, maintaining maximizing its nuclear energy capacity, combined with replacing LNG, 161 (1608 123.7