The WM-Net Zero project is introducing an innovative tool called the Climate Life-course Assessment Toolkit (Climate-LAT) to assess the impacts of climate policies on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health in the West Midlands. This toolkit is designed to go beyond the typical focus on air quality by evaluating multiple environmental exposure pathways that influence health across the lifespan. Using local and regional data, the Climate-LAT will provide a comprehensive systems-based approach to understanding how climate policies affect health in our communities.

The toolkit integrates three advanced components:

1. Participatory Systems Mapping (PSM) Toolkit: This guides engaging stakeholders in developing systems maps, helping to visualize the complex relationships between climate actions and health outcomes.
2. Environmental Modelling Tool: By using detailed emissions data, this tool models the distribution of air pollutants across different areas, down to a 10m resolution for specific local activities like traffic. This allows for high-resolution environmental predictions and future projections based on regional and global scenarios.
3. Health Economic Modelling Tool: Building on the open-source Air-Quality Life-course Assessment Toolkit (AQ-LAT), this component assesses the effects of climate policies on various health outcomes and economic costs. It considers healthcare demands, lifestyle factors, and economic impacts at the local level, allowing for equity analysis across different communities.

Through Climate-LAT, the WM-Net Zero project aims to provide local authorities and health services with actionable insights, ensuring that climate policies deliver health benefits equitably across different populations. This toolkit will enable a deeper understanding of how Net Zero policies impact both health and economic outcomes, guiding effective and inclusive policy development.