Russell TregonningOra Taiao
The Health Effects of Lignite Coal mining in Southland and Otago
Who are OraTaiao:Who are OraTaiao:NZ Climate & Health?NZ Climate & Health?
• 140+ senior doctors and other NZ health professionals gravely concerned about the impacts of climate change(CC) as the leading global health threat this century
• the threat from CC supercedes the mortality from heart disease, cancer, AIDS/HIV, the diabetes epidemic-all combined—Source--recent editorials in leading international medical journals eg The British Medical Journal, The Lancet etc.
Where do I come Where do I come from?from?
What do I do?What do I do?
Why am I talking about Why am I talking about lignite?lignite?
• Burning coal CO2Climate change
• Climate Change is the #1global health hazard
(World Health Organisation, World Medical Assoc. etc)
• Mining, processing and using coal is a health risk to people living locally
• Surgeons are charged- “to advocate for improvements in individual and public health”
( Aus. & NZ College of Surgeons’ Code of Conduct)
The cause of the The cause of the current (unprecedented) current (unprecedented) rapid change in climate.rapid change in climate.
The global effects of The global effects of climate changeclimate change
Why come to Mataura?Why come to Mataura? -6 billion tonnes of recoverable lignite -6 billion tonnes of recoverable lignite
NZ(pp) is already 4 NZ(pp) is already 4thth highest global GHG emitter highest global GHG emitter
• Adequate, safe water & food• Secure shelter & settlements• Freedom from major
pathogenic organisms• Clean air to breathe• Political stability
Climate Change Climate Change threatens all human threatens all human
health needshealth needs
NZ- may be particularly NZ- may be particularly attractive to climate attractive to climate
refugeesrefugees
Coal’s Assault on Human Coal’s Assault on Human HealthHealth
“coal pollutants affect all major body organ systems and contribute to four of the five leading causes of mortality in the US: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases….each step of the coal lifecycle—mining, transportation, washing, combustion, and disposing of post- combustion wastes—impacts human health.”
Physicians For Social Responsibility-- Nov 2009www.psr.org/coalreport
Possible direct health Possible direct health effects on effects on
SouthlandersSouthlandersAIR POLLUTIONAIR POLLUTION
• Particulate matter from coal (particularly fly ash) contain carcinogens, heavy metals & other toxic substances(eg Sox and Nox)
These may cause- • cancer, infant death & neurol.dev (IQ)• chronic heart, lung & kidney diseases (cf US
Appalachians) • Asthma, diabetes, and ischaemic strokes
Other possible direct health effects Other possible direct health effects of open- cast lignite mines on of open- cast lignite mines on
Southland-Southland-WATER POLLUTIONWATER POLLUTION
• Coal washing( slurry),leaching of waste by water, and run-off can poison water for humans and aquatic life (eg
Stockton)• The Mataura River is a taonga
Other direct health Other direct health impacts of lignite miningimpacts of lignite mining
•Noise and vibration
•Accidents
•Dust
•Effects on vulnerable groups including children
Indirect health Indirect health impacts impacts
NB Definition of Health (WHO)-NB Definition of Health (WHO)-
=complete physical,mental and social =complete physical,mental and social
well-beingwell-being
oLoss of physical amenity-• Visual pollution & environ. desructn• trucks ( road safety), •space
oEconomic,employment and income
oSocial capital-migration, protest
Solid Energy’s Solid Energy’s consents-consents-
pilot briquette plantpilot briquette plant
We know what to do to beat We know what to do to beat climate change-climate change-THE LOW-C THE LOW-C ECONOMYECONOMY
Also-The low-carbon Also-The low-carbon economy improves our economy improves our
healthhealth• HEALTHY TRANSPORT active & public transport physical
activitysafety on roads air pollution
• HEALTHY HOUSINGenergy efficiencycheaper electricity
& warmer housesless lung & other disease
My main reason for coming to My main reason for coming to
Mataura?Mataura?
DO WE CARE?DO WE CARE?
Do we care?Do we care?• About contributing to the global #1 health
problem• About our clean green image and
protecting it against our export competitors• About giving our children and theirs the
downsides of fossil fuels while we enjoy the benefits
• About desecrating the fertile Mataura valley and risking the health of its residents
If the answer is YES, we must
KEEP THE COAL IN THE HOLE!
Health Impact Health Impact AssessmentAssessment
• A formal process to predict the health effects of the lignite plans to allow mitigation of them
• Should be independent (not in-house), prospective & comprehensive
• Investigates the health of the miners, the surrounding Mataura community, the waterways & other environment which must include climate change
WHAT CAN WE DO?WHAT CAN WE DO?1. PREVENTION
• Inform and educate New Zealanders about this project
• Appeal future consents to the Environment Court • Organise protests. Stop asset sales
2. MITIGATION
• Support Public Health South in its application to Environment Southland for a comprehensive Health Impact Assessment-to include the world’s #1 health problem—climate change
REFERENCESREFERENCES• Changing planet, changing health-Epstein &
Ferber Univ. Of California Press (2011)• Storms of My Grandchildren-James Hansen-
Bloomsbury Publishing (2009)• Lignite & Climate Change: the high cost of low
grade coal-Report of the parliamentary commissioner for the environment (Nov 2010)-www.pce.parliament.nz
• Coal’s assault on human health-Physicians for Social Responsibility-www.psr.org/coalreport
• Lignite mining and processing in Southland New Zealand: a fossil- fuelled disaster for current and future generations. Medical students for global Awareness. orataiao.org.nz
• My email- tregonning&xtra.co.nz