Is burning coal that bad?

DeCOALonize Resource Source

Coal plants have significant negative externalities: they cause irreparable damage to people and environment, ruining of livelihoods: fishing, farming, tourism, ancillary industries.

• Human health will suffer. Burning coal releases toxic fine particles into the air. These particulates cause asthma, bronchitis, cardiac disease, and cancer. Toxic chemicals from coal ash storage can easily seep into and contaminate groundwater systems.
• In the case of Lamu coal plant, given its technology and ecosystem, Greenpeace experts estimate the plant will cause 1600 premature deaths and other ramifications such as low birth weights.
• Fish, crops, and wildlife will suffer. Burning coal requires millions of gallons of water to keep the plant cool. After the water is used, the hot water will be released back into the ocean around Lamu. The increased temperature will harm the coral and fish in the water and destroy the livelihood of the fisherman and the fishing industry.
• The Lamu coal plant ESIA estimates discharged water could raise the surrounding ocean temperatures by 9°C. The World Bank’s IFC finds a maximum of 3°C to be permissible. ELAW scientist Mark Chernaik notes even smaller temperature differences can still cause significant damage.
• The particulate matter also creates acid rain, which can ruin water systems and crops, plants, and trees, and affect fish and wildlife. The nitrogen in acid rain kills fish and shellfish.
• There will also be historical and cultural damage. The particles will cause corrosion and other damage to the historic buildings and structures in Lamu town. Burning coal creates hazy pollution that limits visibility and could reduce tourism to Lamu. Lamu is already listed as a threatened UNESCO cultural heritage site, one of only two heritage sites in Kenya.
• A 2015 UNESCO reactive monitoring mission documented and predicted irreparable and unmitigable harm from the LAPSSET port project — an analysis which did not include the additional impacts from the coal plant.

For additional information:

Background documents at deCOALonize.org.

More fact sheets here on Medium:

What is the story with the Lamu Plant?
Why will electricity prices increase if the plant is built?
Does Kenya need the plant to support economic growth?
How does the proposed plant affect Lamu’s water?
Impact on World Heritage site: Lamu town is a UNESCO WH site