The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and nine other Canadian health organizations are calling on the Federal Government to phase-out coal plants with less reliance on natural gas.
“All ten health organizations strongly support the 2030 phase-out of Canada’s coal-fired power plants because of the many health benefits it will create for Canadians and for the leadership it demonstrates in international fora where climate solutions are discussed” offered Dr. Joe Vipond, Board Member with CAPE. “However, we need the Federal Government to understand that the health and climate benefits will be greatly diminished if the phase-out is achieved by relying too heavily on natural gas as the alternative.”
The comments submitted on the proposed coal regulations by ten health organizations including The Lung Association, Asthma Canada, and the Canadian Public Health Association (OPHA) identify the need for the Federal Government to ensure that equivalency agreements with the provinces ensure that Canadians are protected from air pollution and mercury from coal plants.
“Natural gas is neither healthy, nor sustainable” notes Kim Perrotta, Executive Director for CAPE. “When used to produce electricity with inefficient technologies, natural gas is no better for the climate than coal because of the heavy methane emissions associated with its extraction and methane’s powerful impact on the climate. In addition, while natural gas burns cleaner than coal, the extraction of natural gas has been linked to a number of serious health effects for neighbouring communities.”
The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that methane is 86 times more powerful as a climate forcer than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period. Present estimates suggest that the oil and gas sector in Canada are responsible for 44% of methane emissions in Canada, which account for about 15% of Canada’s greenhouse gases (GHGs).
A systematic review conducted by the Concerned Health Professionals of New York (CHP-NY) and the Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) found that a significant percentage of the original research directed at hydraulic fracturing found potential for water contamination, significant air pollution, and harm to human health.
Contact:
Kim Perrotta, Executive Director, Toronto: 905-320-8710
Dr. Joe Vipond, CAPE Board Member, Calgary: 403-510-9236