HCWH’s strategic partner in Australia, the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), recently released a Joint Statement on the Health Effect of Coal in Australia with the Climate Council of Australia. This statement comes in response to a government inquiry report on a coal mine fire that occurred in the state of Victoria.

The statement points to the local and global risks to health associated with the coal industry and calls for increased monitoring of coal mining operations, increased funding for research into the health impacts of coal, as well as investment to support coal communities transition to healthier, safer, less polluting industries. It also calls for: the consideration of health risks in all energy policy and investment decisions, independent air, water and soil quality monitoring at and around every coal mine and power station in Australia. 

The use of coal and its health impacts are serious concerns as it is the source of 75% of Australia’s electricity. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of the dry and hot conditions in which bushfires occur. Australia has many open cut coal mines where fires can take hold and burn for weeks, months and sometime years, creating a huge source of greenhouse gases as well as toxic air pollution.The 

The Joint Statement is accompanied by a Briefing Paper on Health Effects of Coal in Australia, which outlines findings from scientific and medical literature on the impacts on health from the production of coal. It is signed by Professor Fiona Stanley and Professor Tim Flannery from the Climate Council and Dr. Liz Hanna, President of Climate and Health Alliance on behalf of CAHA’s 27 member organizations.

• Read the Joint Statement on the Health Effect of Coal in Australia

• Read the Briefing Paper on Health Effects of Coal in Australia

• Visit CAHA’s website