IMED|HEL is a health and economy assessment module within the Integrated Model of Energy, Environment, and Economy for Sustainable Development (IMED). It is designed to evaluate the health and economic implications of environmental and climate policy choices. The module follows a single chain from scenario assumptions to emissions, pollutant concentrations, population exposure, health outcomes, and economic metrics. It represents both ambient exposure and indoor exposure related to household fuel use. Across China-focused applications at national, regional, city, and sector scales, the framework has expanded from PM_2.5-focused burden accounting to ozone-inclusive and joint PM_2.5-O₃ assessments. It has also moved from damage estimation to evaluating end-of-pipe controls, structural transitions, and climate and air quality synergies. The model provides strong support for incorporating health damages as a core policy outcome when comparing and prioritizing pollution control and mitigation options.

Carbon mitigation technologies lead to air quality improvement and health co-benefits, while the practical effects of the technologies are dependent on the energy composition, technological advancements, and economic development. In China, mitigation technologies such as end-of-pipe treatment, renewable energy adoption, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and sector electrification demonstrate significant promise in meeting carbon reduction targets. However, the optimization of these technologies for maximum co-benefits remains unclear. Here, we employ an integrated assessment model (AIM/enduse, CAM-chem, IMEDHEL) to analyze air quality shifts and their corresponding health and economic impacts at the provincial level in China within the two-degree target. Our findings reveal that a combination of end-of-pipe technology, renewable energy utilization, and electrification yields the most promising results in air quality improvement, with a reduction of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) by −34.6 μg m⁻³ and ozone by −18.3 ppb in 2050 compared to the reference scenario. In contrast, CCS technology demonstrates comparatively modest improvements in air quality (−9.4 μg m⁻³ for PM_2.5 and −2.4 ppb for ozone) and cumulative premature deaths reduction (−3.4 million from 2010 to 2050) compared to the end-of-pipe scenario. Notably, densely populated regions such as Henan, Hebei, Shandong, and Sichuan experience the most health and economic benefits. This study aims to project effective future mitigation technologies and climate policies on air quality improvement and carbon mitigation. Furthermore, it seeks to delineate detailed provincial-level air pollution control strategies, offering valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders in pursuing sustainable and health-conscious environmental management.