The energy sector is undergoing a profound shift towards lower-carbon and renewable sources, but this transition brings potential health risks for workforces and communities. To emphasize the need to integrate health considerations into every aspect of the energy transition to ensure a “just transition” that leaves no one behind, IOGP and Ipieca have published a position paper, Health in the energy transition, to guide companies in proactively managing health risks and maximizing opportunities for positive health outcomes during this period of change.
To succeed in the energy transition, it is critical to understand the interplay of climate, energy, and health. This paper offers valuable insights into the ways in which those three areas intersect, and the potential impacts of that intersection. Readers will learn to identify specific occupational and public health risks linked to energy transition technologies like wind, solar, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, and biofuels.
Also included are implementable strategies for factoring health into project planning, risk assessment, and stakeholder engagement.
Special attention is given to protecting the health and safety of workers involved in new energy facilities’ construction, manufacturing, and operation.
Finally, the paper addresses potential health impacts on communities affected by energy transition projects, such as those concerning water, sanitation, and disease transmission.
The full position paper is available to download from the IOGP Publications library.
