The Breathe Rio project aims to advance low-emission initiatives, including the development of transport hubs, medium and high-capacity transit systems, and a Low Emission District in the city center. However, these efforts need to be systematically assessed in terms of how their impacts and benefits are distributed across different social groups.
CSF’s work responds to that need by applying an explicit economic assessment with an equity lens across the Breathe Rio portfolio. The analysis examines the health, productivity, and socio-economic implications of planned interventions, with a focus on understanding how transport policies and air pollution affect vulnerable communities. By generating disaggregated and spatially explicit evidence, the project helps identify potential risks and blind spots before implementation, enabling more inclusive and effective policy design.
In parallel, the work explores the economic and pricing dynamics of public transport, including the role of subsidies and how they can be better aligned with clean air and social inclusion objectives. For example, a zero fare policy for public transport is gaining traction in public discussions in Brazil, and its potential impacts will be evaluated through a valuation study led by CSF. This provides policymakers with practical evidence to design interventions that are not only environmentally effective, but also socially fair and economically sound.
By integrating equity into air quality and transport planning, the initiative strengthens the capacity of Rio de Janeiro’s institutions to deliver cleaner air alongside improved social outcomes, and contributes an approach that can inform similar efforts in other Brazilian cities and beyond.
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