The real cost of coal
Coal - health impacts and costs
July 10, 2022
The real cost of coal
Date: July 10 2022
Author: Master Admin
Keywords:
Proponents of fossil fuels, will often claim that burning coal should continue on the basis that it is cheap. But this is entirely untrue when the full costs of generation are accounted for.
In 2011 two major papers were published that examined the costs of coal once environmental and social damages were included, rather than simply the material costs of building and operating a plant. One from health researchers at Harvard University the other by leading economists. Both found that when these externality costs were acccounted, coal was not economically competetive.
Paul Epstein and colleagues assessed the health and environmental damages arising at each stage of the life cycle of coal; from mining, transport, processing to combustion and waste. They found that the life cycle effects of coal and waste stream were costing the US public between one thrid and half a trillion dollars annually, in addition some of the pollution realted costs were also cumulative. When these costs are included, the price of coal fired power increases by 200 -300%.
Full cost accounting for the life cycle of coal
The other study published in The American Economic Review looked at including environmental externalities across US industries. Several industries had air pollution damages larger than their value added. the largest ondustrial contributor to external cost was coal fired electricity generation with damages of between 0.8 to 5.6 times value added. In otehr words coal has a net negative effect on the US economy.
Environmental Accounting for Pollution in the United states Economy
The argument that the potential benefits from increased electricity outweighs the negative health effects in developing nations is also not supported.
A 2013 study examining the link between fine particulate pollution and health outcomes by the Mumbai-based Conservation Action Trust found there were over 100,000 premature deaths linked to exposure to coal pollution in India, including 10,000 children under five, as well as millions of cases of asthma and respiratory disease. The economic cost estimated at around $4.6 billion annually.
Analysis of health data and coal and electricity consumption in 41 developing nations concluded that increased electricity consumption in all but the most impoverished countries did not lead to health improvements, whereas coal consumption had significant detrimental health impacts.