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