Post on 11-Feb-2016
description
HIDDEN COSTS of COAL
CASE STUDY – PLANNED COAL POWER PLANT Plomin C
The methodology used by Greenpeace to quantify the health impacts of air pollution from coal-fired power plants in EU has been developed for the European Environment Agency by a consortium led by the UK consultancy firm AEA
obtaining data on air pollution emissions:
Environmental Impact Assesment for Plomin C:
Annual emissions of power plant Plomin (tonnes):Particles 100 tonnes NOX 800 tonnesSO2 1200 tonnes
First step
estimating how the emissions affect the ambient concentrations of particulate matter and ozone that the population is exposed to.
Done with atmospheric modeling carried out by the EMEP programme (Co-operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe). The models include average data on population density and weather patterns.
exposure PM2.5 and ozone ( μg/m3/person) resulting from the emission of one tonne of SO2, NOx or PM2.5
Second step
Results
Greenpeace uses new matrices that were prepared for the European Environment Agency (2011) report “Revealing the costs of air pollution from industrial facilities in Europe”.
Using risk factors based on epidemiological studies to estimate health impacts resulting from the increases in ambient PM2.5 and ozone concentrations.
Third step
Total health impacts (cases per year)
Premature deaths 17 cases
Asthma attacks 2671 cases
Sickness days 27259 (of which 3970 lost workdays)
Respiratory symptoms, including cough 36163 cases
Results for Plomin C
Air pollution is associated with asthma attacks in children and adults with an existing asthma. Thisis measured as the amount of asthma symptoms requiring medication.
What is “asthma cases”
Air pollution increases the risk of several diseases and health problems that can force people to take additional sick leave. This ranges from minor respiratory infections and coughs to recovery from heart attacks.
Sickness days include lost work days, sickness days of non-working population, as well as sickness days during weekends and holidays.
What is „sickness days“
External costs of air pollution caused by Plomin C37,2 (mil. euro per year)
External costs of CO2 - caused by climate change 87,6 (mil. euro per year)
Total external costs 124,8 (mil. euro per year)
External costs
- Greenpeace energy scenarios for the EU:
Energy (R)evolution
-
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R]
2009 2015 2020 2030 2040 2050
Ocean Energy
Solar Thermal
Geothermal
Biomass
PV
Wind
Hydro
Nuclear
Diesel
Oil
Gas
Lignite
Coal
Title
- yes
Source: EWEA
- Reduces environmental destruction and climate change
- Improves security (wars for energy resources)
- Decentralization and more democracy- Green jobs and benefits for local economy- Reduced dependency on energy imports
and energy prices
Energy (R)evolution
Thank you for your attention!
Jiri JerabekRegional Climate & Energy Expert
Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europejiri.jerabek@greenpeace.at
Aerial photograph documenting mountain top removal mining atop Cherry Pond Mountain.
Other environmental impacts
0
6.000
12.000
18.000
24.000
30.000
36.000
42.000
48.000
54.000
REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R]
2009 2015 2020 2030 2040 2050
Efficiency
Other Sectors
Industry
Transport
figure X.X: EU27: Projection of total final energy demand by sector – scenarios REF, E[R]
Title
- EU Energy Roadmap 2050
„ Air pollution is causing more deaths than HIV or malaria combined,”
„If we increase access to clean energy ... the health benefits will be enormous“
Kandeh Yumkella, director general of the U.N. Industrial Development Organization, April 2013
In the largest and most well-known study on particulate air pollution and risk of death, 500 000 adults in 50 U.S. states with different air pollution levels were followed between 1982 and 1998.
People living in more polluted environments have a significantly higher risk of fatal heart and lung disease and lung cancer. .
Findings