Global Health Professionals Call for Transition Away from Coal

Health professionals from 30 countries call on G7 nations to phase out coal power to reduce air pollution and climate-related health risks. The document highlights that coal plants release sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury, contributing to millions of premature deaths and significant healthcare costs. It advocates for renewable energy and energy efficiency as viable alternatives, noting successful phase-outs in regions like Ontario and the UK.

• Coal-fired power plants emit sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter, which increase the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. These pollutants contribute to approximately 3.7 million premature deaths globally per year from conditions such as heart disease, strokes, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• The health and economic burdens of coal are significant in specific regions: in the United States, coal pollution causes roughly 13,200 premature deaths, 20,000 heart attacks, and 9,700 hospitalizations annually. In the European Union, the annual health costs associated with coal plants are estimated at up to 43 billion EUR.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (n.d.). Global Health Professionals Call for Transition Away from Coal. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Global-Health-Statement-on-Coal-Updated.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Global Health Professionals Call for Transition Away from Coal. n.d. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Global-Health-Statement-on-Coal-Updated.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Global Health Professionals Call for Transition Away from Coal |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Global-Health-Statement-on-Coal-Updated.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironmentndglobal, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Global Health Professionals Call for Transition Away from Coal}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Global-Health-Statement-on-Coal-Updated.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }