Health Collaborative Comments on the Notice of Intent to develop Greenhouse Gas regulations for Electricity Generation in Canada

A submission from a collaborative of eight health organizations to Environment and Climate Change Canada advocating for an accelerated phase-out of coal-fired power plants to maximize public health and climate benefits.

• A Canada-wide phase-out of coal-fired power plants by 2030 could result in $5 billion in health benefits related to air pollution and a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30 megatonnes (MT). This scenario assumes all coal generators close after 40 years of operation or by 2030, with two-thirds of capacity replaced by non-emitting renewables and one-third by low-emitting natural gas technology.
• The health collaborative expresses concern that the Federal Government's proposed regulations are insufficiently ambitious, anticipating GHG reductions of only 5 MT outside of Alberta, or 15 MT including Alberta, compared to the 30 MT estimated by the Pembina Institute.
• Correct implementation of a coal phase-out is described as a 'triple win' for health: it could prevent 1,000 premature deaths and 900 hospital visits through better air quality, protect children's mental capacity by lowering ecosystem mercury levels, and reduce climate-related disease and death by lowering GHG emissions.
• The collaborative urges the government to ensure a phased approach starting immediately, a replacement of at least two-thirds of coal capacity with renewable energy, and equivalency agreements that provide reductions in mercury and criteria air contaminants equal to those for greenhouse gases.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2017). Health Collaborative Comments on the Notice of Intent to develop Greenhouse Gas regulations for Electricity Generation in Canada. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/3.Health-Collaborative-Submission-to-Environment-and-Climate-Change-Canada-re-Notice-of-Intent-to-develop-Greenhouse-Gas-regulations-for-Electricity-Generation-in-Canada-January-2017.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Health Collaborative Comments on the Notice of Intent to develop Greenhouse Gas regulations for Electricity Generation in Canada. 2017. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/3.Health-Collaborative-Submission-to-Environment-and-Climate-Change-Canada-re-Notice-of-Intent-to-develop-Greenhouse-Gas-regulations-for-Electricity-Generation-in-Canada-January-2017.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Health Collaborative Comments on the Notice of Intent to develop Greenhouse Gas regulations for Electricity Generation in Canada |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/3.Health-Collaborative-Submission-to-Environment-and-Climate-Change-Canada-re-Notice-of-Intent-to-develop-Greenhouse-Gas-regulations-for-Electricity-Generation-in-Canada-January-2017.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2017health, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Health Collaborative Comments on the Notice of Intent to develop Greenhouse Gas regulations for Electricity Generation in Canada}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2017}, month = jan, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/3.Health-Collaborative-Submission-to-Environment-and-Climate-Change-Canada-re-Notice-of-Intent-to-develop-Greenhouse-Gas-regulations-for-Electricity-Generation-in-Canada-January-2017.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }