Code Black

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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_at_earthlink.net

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Context 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!

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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

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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,
  availabilityas does flooding!
• Most devastating effects will
• occur in poor countries/com-
• munities (IA, WI) that cant
• afford seed stocks developed
• for changes in temperature
• for staple crops like wheat,
• rice or corn.

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

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CO2 Emissions in tons of carbon equivalent /
capita.

• We are lt 5 of the worlds population, but are
  responsible for nearly 25 of
• the worlds GHG emissions, i.e. almost 5 times
  more than our fair share

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions By Type
HFCs, PFCs, SF6 (2.2)
Nitrous Oxide (5.1)
Carbon Dioxide (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.
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• Coal generates roughly half the energy
  electricity used in the U.S. for
• Energy UtilitiesResidential, Municipal, Rural
  Coops
• Ethanol and Agricultural Processing Plants
• Industrial Energy Sources
• Universities, Colleges, other Large
• Business operations

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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 centurys end. Small changes
  in temperature bring big changes in the
  ecosystem.

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

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COAL Threatens LIFE!

• Coal is the largest source of greenhouse gas
  emissions in the country, the largestfastest-grow
  ing 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 gt 100 yrs

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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

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Burning Coal Threatens Healthin Iowa the world
throughout the coal life cyclefrom mining to ash
Mountaintop removal has damaged or destroyed
nearly 2,000 miles of streams in Americas oldest
mountain range
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And When its 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

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Burning coal releases a multitude of other toxins
into the environment in addition to CO2

• Tens of tons of Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxides,
• Small Particulatesa.k.a. PM2.5, Volatile Organic
• Compounds 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
  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

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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

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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

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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 gt 550,000 asthma attacks, 38,000
  heart attacks 12,000 hospital admissions
  annually.

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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

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Coal/Climate Changes Most Vulnerable Populations

• Children Pediatr Clin N Am 2007
• Women
• Elders
• Disabled
• Chronic Medical Conditions
• Chronically Mentally Ill

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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!

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Caution Predicting Health Outcomes--inexact at
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

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How Bad? Acting in Uncertainty
Is Climate Change Threat Real?? TAKE ACTION YES TAKE ACTION NO
Possibly False Risk Costs Economic Depression? Continued Prosperity?
Possibly True Cost (but well spent) ? Catastrophe Global Environmental Economic, Political, Social, Public Health Worst Case Scenario!
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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.

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Real Homeland Security Disaster
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?

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There is Survival After Coal

• Economic growth, sustainable development is not
  only possible while also reducing GHG
  emissionsbut 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, Lets focus on whats already proven!

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Energy Efficiency
Theres no cheaper, cleaner power than power
you dont have to produce. - Gary
Zarker, Seattle City Light
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Energy Conservation
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Clean Renewable Energy
WIND
SOLAR
GEOTHERMAL
WAVES and TIDES
Clean Energy Could Create 850,000 New Jobs
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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,
  Worldwatchespecially reports studies

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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, Dont 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

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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/
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Finally Dont 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)
• Theres a lot of work yet to be done!

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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 processwork for
  a clean energy and a sustainable future!
• -Support Clean Sustainable Overseas Development