The Health Cost of Coal in Indonesia

The report examines the health and economic costs of coal in Indonesia, highlighting the link between coal combustion and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It argues that the Indonesian government's continued subsidies for coal, which reached USD 946 million in 2014, contradict public health needs and the availability of cheaper renewable energy alternatives.

• Coal combustion releases toxic substances including nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter (PM2.5), mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead, which are linked to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, and lung cancer.
• Indonesia experienced higher mortality from coal emissions in 2011 compared to its regional neighbors, with an estimated 7,480 excess deaths per year. This figure is projected to increase to 25,000 per year by 2030 if no measures are taken.
• The economic burden of coal-related NCDs falls heavily on low-income households. For example, the annual therapy cost for COPD is estimated at USD 1,125 per person, which represents nearly half of the yearly income for low-income families (estimated at USD 2,400).
• Indonesian coal power plants operate under emission standards that are weaker than those in China and India, and the country lacks a standard for mercury emissions.
• In 2013, the Indonesian government spent USD 31 billion on fossil fuel subsidies, which was more than three times the USD 10 billion spent on public health. Subsidies for coal production alone were USD 946 million in 2014, roughly 10 per cent of the 2013 public health expenditure.

APA

Sanchez, L., & Luan, B. (2018). The Health Cost of Coal in Indonesia. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/health-cost-coal-indonesia.pdf

Chicago

Sanchez, Lourdes, and Bernadethe Luan. The Health Cost of Coal in Indonesia. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2018. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/health-cost-coal-indonesia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sanchez |first1=Lourdes |last2=Luan |first2=Bernadethe |title=The Health Cost of Coal in Indonesia |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 2018 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/health-cost-coal-indonesia.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sanchez2018health, author = {Sanchez, Lourdes and Luan, Bernadethe}, title = {{The Health Cost of Coal in Indonesia}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2018}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/health-cost-coal-indonesia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }