Lay summary
Human induced greenhouse gases are changing global climatic ecosystems. Theses climatic changes will impact on human health in NZ (as well as globally), through mechanisms such as altered food production, disease vectors and extreme weather events. Local policies introduced to mitigate climate change (i.e. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions), such as emissions trading schemes, are also likely to impact on human health by altering the distribution of health determinants e.g. patterns of transport use, cost of food and use of heating. Health impacts are likely to be a mix of positive and negative effects and may significantly change population health as they will have widespread (if uneven) distribution. The purpose of the study is to identify and quantify the effects of climate change mitigation policy (including the emissions trading scheme) on future population health and inequalities in NZ, using comparative risk assessment methods.