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| The Health Sector on the Front Lines |
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In the age of climate change, the health sector finds itself on the front lines, confronting and adapting to a changing landscape and shifting burden of disease. By working to reduce carbon pollution in the atmosphere, while developing forward looking adaptation strategies, we can protect human health, saving lives and money. Indeed, the health sector can play a leadership role in developing and modeling climate solutions for the rest of society. |
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| Reports & Publications |
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Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Agenda is a document that sets out to support existing efforts around the world to promote greater sustainability and environmental health in the health sector, and thereby to strengthen health systems globally.
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| Notice: The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Health Care Without Harm concerning the legal, social, economic status of any country, territory, city of area or of its authorities. The published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. Online articles and links might expire days after their release date. |
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| Coal Combustion Poses Serious Risks to Human Health, Review Finds
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| Source HCWH and UIC |
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A new scientific review,
Scientific Evidence of
Health Effects from Coal Use
in Energy Generation, has been released by researchers from the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The pollutants generated from coal combustion have profound effects on the health of local communities but can also travel long distances, affecting communities remote from power plants, according to the review. This scientific literature review is a new initiative of the Health Care Research Collaborative based at UIC and carried out in conjunction with Health Care Without Harm, and is part of a project to evaluate the health impacts and healthcare costs of energy generation choices across a number of countries. read media release | download report |
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| India: New Study Finds Emissions from Coal Plants Cause High Mortality and Diseases |
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| source Urban Emissions |
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| Emissions from coal-fired power plants are taking a heavy toll on human life across large parts of India. In 2011-2012, coal emissions resulted in 80,000 to 115,000 premature deaths and more than 20 million asthma cases from exposure to a total PM10 (particulate matter) pollution. Titled Coal Kills — An Assessment of Death and Disease caused by India's dirtiest energy source, by Urban Emissions.info and Greenpeace India, with support from Conservation Action Trust (CAT), the study says emissions from coal-fired power are responsible for a large mortality and morbidity burden on human health. download |
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| Europe: How is Coal Pollution Making Us Sick?
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| source HEAL |
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| A new report launched by the European NGO, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to provide an overview of the scientific evidence of how air pollution impacts health in Europe and how emissions from coal power plants are implicated in this. It presents the first-ever economic assessment of the health costs associated with air pollution from coal power plants in Europe as well as testimonies from leading health advocates, medical experts and policy makers on why they are concerned about coal. The report develops recommendations for policy-makers and the health community on how to address the unpaid health bill and ensure that it is taken into account in future energy decisions. download report |
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| World Bank: Panel on the Health Effects of Coal |
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| source Bank Information Center |
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| The World Bank is considering funding a new coal-fired power plant located just a few miles from Pristina, Kosovo's capital city with a population of 198,000 residents. The World Bank published its own paper in 2012 on the health impacts of Kosovo's current pollution levels, which found that 835 premature deaths, €100 million of expenditures, and over 23,000 new cases of respiratory illnesses among children are reported annually as a result of pollution, 50% of which are attributed to burning coal. In an event taking place on April 17th, panelists will present new research on the health impacts of coal, as well as on-the-ground experiences from physicians who work in communities affected by the current coal-fired power plants near Pristina. read more |
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| US: Activist Wins Goldman Environmental Prize for Fight to Shut Down Coal Plants |
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| source Associated Press |
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Kimberly Wasserman Nieto, a young community organizer, led a campaign to successfully shut down Chicago's last two coal-fired power plants, a task that required taking on a major corporation and, ultimately, City Hall. Wasserman is now transforming Chicago’s old industrial sites into parks and multi-use spaces.
She will be honored Monday, April 15, 2013, in San Francisco as the 2013 North American winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize. Given to six people annually (one on each inhabited continent) the Goldman is the largest award of its kind. read more |
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| Global: Energy and Human Health |
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| source Annual Reviews.org |
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| Energy use is central to human society and provides many health benefits. But each source of energy entails some health risks. The biggest health impacts accrue to the harvesting and burning of solid fuels, coal and biomass, mainly in the form of occupational health risks and household and general ambient air pollution. Lack of access to clean fuels and electricity in the world's poor households is a particularly serious risk for health. Although energy efficiency brings many benefits, it also entails some health risks, as do renewable energy systems, if not managed carefully. This article reviews the health impacts of each major source of energy, focusing on those with major implications for the burden of disease globally. read more |
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