By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Five new reports bring human health to the forefront of the climate mitigation conversation in an attempt to empower communities and decision-makers to consider local impacts when deciding on low-carbon infrastructure.

“It’s really an effort to advance the discussions and look at how infrastructure has not only the benefit of reducing emissions, but really improving community health,” said Aline Coutinho, a research associate with the Smart Prosperity Institute who authored two of the reports.