Code Black

1. Code Black A Campaign to Move from Coal to Renewables The Iowa PSR Experience Maureen McCue MD PhD Global Health Studies Center for Human Rights University of Iowa International Programs Medical Officer Johnson County Board of Health  Coordinator Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility mickiq@earthlink.net

2. Context: What is/Why all the concern re. Coal and Global Warming? • GW -- NotJust an Environmental Issue… • GW is an economic issue, a human rights issue, a lifestyle issue, anda 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!

3. Context: 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

4. Associated motivating phenomena of concern to the rural Midwest…. Changing Weather = Changing Agriculture, Foods & Economies Food 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 developed for changes in temperature for staple crops like wheat, rice or corn.

5. Reminder: Carbon Emissions 2000 We have a moral/ethical responsibility to address the threats which historically & currently we have disproportionately and adversely affected

6. U.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!

7. CO2 Emissions in tons of carbon equivalent / capita. We are < 5% of the world’s population, but are responsible for nearly 25% of the world’s GHG emissions, i.e. almost 5 times more than our “fair share”

8. Greenhouse Gas Emissions By Type HFCs, PFCs, SF6 (2.2%) Nitrous Oxide (5.1%) CarbonDioxide(84.1%) Methane (8.6%) 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 Source: Energy Information Administration. Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2005.

9. 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

10. Coal/Cars: Global Warming Comparisons The 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.

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Burning coal releases a multitude of other toxins into the environment in addition to CO2 Tens of tons of Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxides, SmallParticulates—a.k.a. PM2.5, Volatile Organic Compounds are released contributing to development ofOzone/Smog and…, over 67 other toxic Chemicals** inthousands of pounds/year/plant, including (but not limited to): Antimony compounds Arsenic compounds Barium compounds Chromium compounds Copper compounds Lead compounds Manganese compounds Mercury compounds Nickel compounds Vanadium compounds Zinc compounds Hydrochloric acid Hydrofluoric acid Sulfuric acid Ammonia Selenium Other hydrocarbons + Cadmium, Thallium, etc. **which can cause cancer and neurological problems

17. 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 into the 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

18. COAL— 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

19. COAL: 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.

20. Climate Change: Compounds Public 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

21. Coal/Climate Change’s Most Vulnerable Populations • ChildrenPediatr Clin N Am 2007 • Women • Elders • Disabled Chronic Medical Conditions • Chronically Mentally Ill

22. Counter Lies & Distortions--There is NO 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!

23. Caution: Predicting Health Outcomes--inexactat best! Relationships, cause & effects in the chain from coal or climate change to changing health determinants & 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

24. How Bad? Acting in Uncertainty

25. Politics & Partnerships Maintaining 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.

26. Real Homeland SecurityDisaster Prevention/Planning Our Real Security Need: Pre-emptive public health! • Public Health Surveillance, Monitoring, Prediction, Warning, & Response Plans Ex: Municipal Heat Wave Response Plans • Strengthen Community Resilience through Adaptation Focused Development and Improved infrastructure • Promote Inclusive Global Adaptations- Agriculture, 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?

27. There 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!

28. Energy Efficiency “There’s no cheaper, cleaner power than power you don’t have to produce.” - Gary Zarker, Seattle City Light

29. Energy Conservation

30. Clean Renewable Energy WIND SOLAR GEOTHERMAL WAVES and TIDES Clean Energy Could Create 850,000 New Jobs

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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/

34. 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!

35. Related to your Political Activism: Personal Energy Choices, Behaviors -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