Code BlackCode BlackA Campaign to Move from Coal to

RenewablesThe Iowa PSR Experience

Maureen McCue MD PhDGlobal Health Studies

Center for Human RightsUniversity of Iowa International Programs

Medical Officer Johnson County Board of Health Coordinator Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility

mickiq@earthlink.net

Context:Context: What What is/Why all the concern re.

Coal and Global Warming? • GW -- Not Just an Environmental Issue…

• GW is an economic issue, a human rights issue, a lifestyle issue, and a health issue.

• Global Warming is about race, class and democratic participation. It's about globalization, global democracy….about national security, and global security. It will affect all of us; some of us more or faster than others!

ContextContext: Motivating Urgency!“Exceeding climate scientists' worst

fears, a new global study shows that greenhouse gas emissions are continuing to rise at dangerous, life-threatening levels.” *

The 3% increase in climate-destabilizing CO2

emissions for the period of 2006-07 exceeds

the most dire worst-case projections by the

IPCC in 2007! * From AP Sept 28,

2008

Associated motivating phenomena of concern to the rural Midwest…. Associated motivating phenomena of concern to the rural Midwest….

Changing Weather = ChangingChanging Weather = Changing Agriculture, Foods & Economies Agriculture, Foods & EconomiesFood Crops, fish, & life supporting bio-systems are sensitive

to drought, floods, temperature, & changing pests• Almost 1 billion already face chronic hunger around globe• Floods, Droughts Heat Waves → ↑frequent & more costly• Drought brings ↑ fires, loss of crop land, changing pests,

stresses H2O quality, availability—as does flooding!• Most devastating effects will

occur in poor countries/com-munities (IA, WI) that can’t afford seed stocks developedfor changes in temperature

for staple crops like wheat, rice or corn.

Reminder: Carbon Emissions 2000

We have a moral/ethical responsibility to address the threats which historically& currently we have disproportionately and adversely affected

U.S. Contributions/ResponsibilityU.S. Contributions/Responsibility

• Emissions in the United States rose nearly 2% in 2007 alone when the U.S. produced 1.75 billion tons of carbon.

• The new data also shows the average U.S. consumer generates more carbon dioxide pollution by far than anyone else in the world!

CO2 Emissions in tons of carbon equivalent / capita.

We are < 5% of the world’s population, but are responsible for nearly 25% ofthe world’s GHG emissions, i.e. almost 5 times more than our “fair share”

Greenhouse Gas Emissions By TypeGreenhouse Gas Emissions By Type

Carbon Dioxide (84.1%)

Methane (8.6%)

Nitrous Oxide (5.1%)

HFCs, PFCs, SF6 (2.2%)

Source: Energy Information Administration. Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2005.

Note: Global Warming Potential* Methane = 25 NO = 298*The ability of a GHG to trap heat in the atmosphere relative to an equal amount of CO2

Coal generates roughly half the energy & electricity used in the U.S. for:• Energy Utilities—Residential, Municipal, Rural Coops• Ethanol and Agricultural Processing Plants• Industrial Energy Sources• Universities, Colleges, & other Large Business operations

Coal/Cars:Coal/Cars: Global Warming Global Warming ComparisonsComparisonsThe 790MW Council Bluffs plant that went on

line in 2007 and a single 650MW coal-fired power plant together add greenhouse gas & air pollution emissions equivalent to well over a million cars on our roads!

Significant scientific evidence exists regarding the role of coal in climate change. The data supports retiring coal as a necessity to support and achieve GHG emissions reduction efforts. BAU predicts ↑4° C by century’s end. Small changes in temperature bring big changes in the ecosystem.

Code Black:• Coal is “carbon-heavy”: It releases

more carbon per unit of energy generated than do other fuels. Coal-fired power plants are the single most important source of CO2 emissions in the U.S.

• Through Code Black, PSR’s

national office and its chapters work to stop new coal plants and retire older plants by sharing medical information about coal’s impact on human health & global warming.

COAL COAL Threatens LIFE! • Coal is the largest source of greenhouse gas

emissions in the country, the largest—fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet!

• The largest source of mercury

poisoning in the country• One of the largest sources of air

& water pollution on the planet • Each molecule of CO2 is likely to

remain in the atmosphere > 100 yrs

Multipart Complex PictureBurning Coal Involves:

Health/environmental threats at each step of its life cycle:

• Mining: Underground, Strip, & Mountaintop

Removal• Washing – toxic coal slurries• Transit from distant origins• Combustion & use of for production of biofuels (Ex: ethanol plants that burn coal produce twice as much GHGs/gal of fuel

manufactured as those that burn natural gas)

• Waste disposal or storage

Burning Coal Threatens Healthin Iowa & the world throughout the coal

life cycle—from mining to ash

Mountaintop removal has damaged or destroyed nearly 2,000 miles of streams in America’s oldest mountain range

And When it’s Done!

12/08 Fifteen homes one in Harriman, Tenn., were flooded with fly ash sludge on Monday after a storage pond wall broke; 5.4 million cubic yards of wet coal ash spewed over homes, farmland and rivers

Burning coal releases a multitude of other toxins into the environment in

addition to CO2Tens of tons of Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxides,

Small Particulates—a.k.a. PM2.5, Volatile OrganicCompounds are released contributing to development

of Ozone/Smog and…, over 67 other toxic Chemicals** in thousands of

pounds/year/plant, including (but not limited to):

Antimony compounds Arsenic compounds Barium compoundsChromium compounds Copper compounds Lead compoundsManganese compounds Mercury compounds Nickel compoundsVanadium compounds Zinc compounds Hydrochloric acidHydrofluoric acid Sulfuric acid AmmoniaSelenium Other hydrocarbons + Cadmium, Thallium, etc.

**which can cause cancer and neurological problems

About PM2.5: Found in smoke & haze

The greatest threats to health come from particles under 2.5 µm in diameter (PM 2.5). These are just one-twentieth the width of a human hair – they can penetrate deeply intothe lungs to trigger:• Irritation of the airways, coughing, and difficulty breathing • Reduced lung function • Aggravated asthma • Chronic bronchitis • Irregular heartbeat • Nonfatal heart attacks • Some cancers

COALCOAL— Threatens Health An Energy Source that Contributes to:

• Eye, Nose, Throat, Respiratory Irritation

• Asthma, Respiratory Diseases, Cancer

• Exacerbations Heart disease, Stroke Risk

• Cognitive behavioral disorders, Autism

• Missed School- Work Days

• Increased Health Care Costs

• Premature Death

COALCOAL: : Threatens Health

The American Lung Association estimates 24,000 Americans die prematurely/year from coal-fired power plants pollution.

Additionally, the ALA estimates power plant pollution causes > 550,000 asthma attacks, 38,000 heart attacks & 12,000 hospital admissions annually.

Climate Change: Compounds Climate Change: Compounds Public Health Challenges of CoalPublic Health Challenges of Coal

• Temperature Extremes → Excess Death• Worsening Air Quality→ Respiratory Dx• Mosquitoes & other Vector Borne

Diseases (ex: West Nile Virus, many others)

• Extreme Storms/Floods→ Injuries, Crop Losses, Job losses, increased food prices, food insecurity, hunger & violence!

• Mental Health → Anxiety, Depression

Coal/Climate Change’s Coal/Climate Change’s Most Vulnerable PopulationsMost Vulnerable Populations

• Children Pediatr Clin N Am 2007

• Women

• Elders

• Disabled Chronic Medical Conditions

• Chronically Mentally Ill

Counter Lies & Distortions--Counter Lies & Distortions--There is There is NONO Such Thing As Clean Coal! Such Thing As Clean Coal!

• Unless, if/until we are able to capture the CO2 from the burning of coal, our use of it will continue to drive up global warming emissions.• Given the weight of scientific & public health evidence, … moving ahead with plans to expand the sources of high carbon based fossil fuels (whether coal, off-shore oil drilling, processing oil shale, or tar sands) or BAU, = moving ahead to public health, environmental & economic, disasters!

Caution: Caution: Predicting Health Predicting Health OutcomesOutcomes

----inexactinexact at best!at best!Relationships, cause & effects in the chain from coal or Relationships, cause & effects in the chain from coal or

climate change to changing health determinants & climate change to changing health determinants & health outcomes is complex.health outcomes is complex.

Precise Health impacts of coal or future climate related events will be determined concurrently by interactions of numerous non-climatic factors:

↑↑ or shifting populations Availability of health care

Resource depletion Environmental degradation

Poverty/wealth Education/powerlessness

Adaptation of measures to alleviate their impacts

How Bad? Acting in UncertaintyHow Bad? Acting in UncertaintyIs Climate

Change ThreatReal??

TAKE ACTION

YESTAKE ACTION

NO

Possibly…

FalseRisk Costs $$

Economic Depression?

Continued

Prosperity☺

Possibly…

True

Cost $$Cost $$(but well

spent)

☺

CatastropheCatastrophe[Global Environmental

Economic, Political,Social, Public Health]

Worst CaseWorst Case Scenario!Scenario!

Politics & PartnershipsPolitics & PartnershipsMaintaining reliance on coal fired power plants greatly hamstrings the battle against global warming, & sends a negative signal about how serious we are about tackling the climate threat or protecting health.

Join other activists/students in law, policy, medicine, nursing, public health -- speak out, prod, urge businesses & elected officials: change our energy systems and RETIRE COAL PLANTS !

Remember such changes have tremendous benefits for the environment, economy and our health.

Real Homeland SecurityReal Homeland Security Disaster Prevention/PlanningDisaster Prevention/Planning

Our Real Security NeedOur Real Security Need: Pre-emptive public health!Pre-emptive public health!

• Public Health Surveillance, MonitoringPublic Health Surveillance, Monitoring, Prediction, Prediction, Warning, & Response PlansWarning, & Response PlansEx: Municipal Heat Wave Response Plans

• Strengthen Community Resilience Strengthen Community Resilience through Adaptation through Adaptation Focused Development and Improved infrastructureFocused Development and Improved infrastructure

• Promote Inclusive Global Adaptations- Promote Inclusive Global Adaptations- AAgriculture, Building Codes, Urban planning, Household preparedness must all be adapted to provide protection from storms, flooding, possible heat waves.

• We have the money, can we create the political will?

There is Survival After CoalThere is Survival After Coal

Economic growth, sustainable development is not only possible while also reducing GHG emissions—but it very well could flourish!

New Technology solutions based on sound science are critical & can be developed; continued research & demonstration studies should be supported….

But first, Let’s focus on what’s already proven!

Energy EfficiencyEnergy Efficiency

“There’s no cheaper, cleaner power than power you don’t have to produce.”

- Gary Zarker, Seattle City Light

Energy Conservation Energy Conservation

Clean Renewable EnergyClean Renewable Energy

WIND

SOLAR

WAVES and

TIDES

GEOTHERMAL

Clean Energy Could Create 850,000 New Jobs

Partners in I-PSR Coal Work• **Universities: Students & Colleagues

– Global health, engineering, human rights, public health

• Concerned local citizens, health professionals

(especially in impacted areas)• Environmental Justice Law Firm: Plains Justice• Local Boards of Health• Local Elected Officials - City & County• Iowa Public Health Association, NACCHO• Sierra Club, NRDC, Environmental Defense,

UCS, Worldwatch—especially reports & studies

Highlights/Events

• Letter to Governor by local BOH- oppose new plants• Letter to all 99 BOH – oppose new plants• Meetings with regional BOHs; Medical Society• 4th of July Parades x3 with Climate/Coal Messages “Cool

It” Fans, “Don’t be a Sucker!”• Development of Ad, Brochures, Shirts, etc.• Testimony Iowa Utilities Board• Conferences: International Climate Change/ Local

Powerlines• Presentations to Med Staff, Church Groups, Classes• Most Recent: Participate in 350 Day – sponsor letters,

essays, help other groups promote efforts

We have time for questions/comments – especially re. the Iowa campaign. Does anyone have questions? Additional information to share?

For more info: http://www.psr.org/environment-and-health/code-black/

Finally: Don’t Forget

Act Locally, but Think Globally:Global efforts are needed -- requiring international cooperation and support.

GHG reduction efforts need not be targeted at just one industry alone, but need to

include consideration of other sectors: (Agriculture, Transportation, Housing,

Industry, Hospitals etc)There’s a lot of work yet to be done!

-Eat lower on the food chain!-Choose high efficiency vehicles and

appliances - drive earth smart-Leave your car at home-walk, bike, bus -Turn off, unplug unused electrical devices -Buy less, share more, always consider hidden costs!-Calculate your Carbon footprint--Join Local Efforts to

go Green; find local resources to help, support and motivate you!

-Get engaged with the political process—work for a clean energy and a sustainable future!

-Support Clean Sustainable Overseas Development

Related to your Political Activism:Personal Energy Choices, Behaviors