Global Health Statement on Coal - Google Docs

A statement by 82 health organizations from 30 countries calling on G7 nations to accelerate the global transition away from coal-fired electricity to improve public health and mitigate climate change.

• Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter, which increase risks of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Globally, outdoor air pollution causes approximately 3.7 million premature deaths annually from conditions such as heart disease, strokes, lung cancer, and acute lower respiratory infections in children.
• The health impacts of coal power are significant in specific regions: in the United States, it contributes to roughly 13,200 premature deaths, 20,000 heart attacks, and 9,700 hospitalizations per year. In the European Union, annual health costs associated with coal plants are estimated at up to 43 billion EUR.
• Coal plants are a major source of mercury, which can adversely affect the central nervous system, particularly in children exposed prenatally, by accumulating through the aquatic food chain.
• The World Health Organization identifies climate change as the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century. It is estimated that by 2030, climate change will cause 250,000 additional premature deaths annually due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress.
• Transitioning to renewable energy and keeping global temperature increases below 2°C could prevent significant premature deaths annually: 1.1 million in China, 40,000 in the EU, and 20,000 in the U.S., primarily by reducing exposure to fine particulate matter.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (n.d.). Global Health Statement on Coal - Google Docs. 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 Statement on Coal - Google Docs. 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 Statement on Coal - Google Docs |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 Statement on Coal - Google Docs}}, 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} }