Submission to Alberta’s Climate Change Advisory Panel

A joint submission to Alberta’s Climate Change Advisory Panel by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), The Lung Association of Alberta & Northwest Territories, and the Asthma Society of Canada, advocating for the phase-out of coal-fired power plants to protect human health and mitigate climate change.

• Coal-fired power plants in Alberta create a 'triple threat' to human health by emitting greenhouse gases that drive climate change, common air pollutants, and mercury, a toxic metal that damages the human central nervous system.
• In 2011, Alberta's six coal plants were responsible for 33% of sulphur dioxide, 10% of nitrogen oxides, and 6% of fine particulate matter emissions in the province. These pollutants are linked to increased hospital admissions, emergency room visits, and premature deaths from conditions including asthma, strokes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Using the Illness Cost of Air Pollution (ICAP) model, the health impacts of air pollution from Alberta's coal-fired power plants were estimated at approximately $300 million annually, or $3 billion over 10 years. This includes an estimated 100 premature deaths from long-term exposure and 700 emergency department visits annually.
• Alberta's coal plants emitted 44% of the mercury released from human activities in the province in 2011. Mercury exposure, particularly through contaminated fish, is linked to adverse developmental impacts in children and pregnant women, including reduced motor skills and cognitive abilities.
• In 2011, Alberta's six coal plants produced about 44 megatonnes of greenhouse gases, representing approximately 18% of the province's total emissions. Climate change is expected to increase the severity of heat waves, smog, pollen, wildfires, and flooding in Alberta, as evidenced by the 2013 floods which displaced over 100,000 people and cost over $5 billion.
• The phase-out of coal-fired power plants in Ontario between 2003 and 2015 resulted in the removal of over 147,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide and 42,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxides. In Toronto, this contributed to a 23% reduction in air pollution-related premature deaths (from 1,700 in 2000 to 1,300 in 2010) and a 41% reduction in hospital admissions.
• The submitting organizations recommend that the Alberta Government phase out coal-fired power plants by 2025 at the latest without re-investing in natural gas plants. They further advise establishing incentives for renewable energy and programs for energy efficiency and conservation.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2015). Submission to Alberta’s Climate Change Advisory Panel. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Submission-Albertas-Climate-Advisory-Panel-CAPE-Sept-2015-1.pdf#new_tab

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Submission to Alberta’s Climate Change Advisory Panel. 2015. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Submission-Albertas-Climate-Advisory-Panel-CAPE-Sept-2015-1.pdf#new_tab.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Submission to Alberta’s Climate Change Advisory Panel |date=18 September 2015 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Submission-Albertas-Climate-Advisory-Panel-CAPE-Sept-2015-1.pdf#new_tab |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2015submission, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Submission to Alberta’s Climate Change Advisory Panel}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2015}, month = sep, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Submission-Albertas-Climate-Advisory-Panel-CAPE-Sept-2015-1.pdf#new_tab}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }