Countries with high incomes and high carbon emissions do not achieve higher life expectancies than those with moderate incomes and lower carbon emissions, a new study finds.

The finding challenges the assumption that human well-being requires growth in both economic activity and carbon emissions.

The study highlights alternative development plans that place a priority on human well-being and climate protection over demands for economic growth.

Researchers investigated links between carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, economic wealth, and life expectancy and found that, ideally, from a sustainable development perspective, countries would achieve both high incomes and high life expectancies at low levels of carbon emissions.