Earlier this week, health workers expressed their concern over the Victorian Government and AGL’s agreement to permit Victoria’s Loy Yang A power station to remain operational until 2035.
Healthy Futures GP and Coordinator Dr Harry Jennens said that for every year the power plant stays open it kills dozens of people through its production of toxic air pollution.
“Coal pollution causes heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, cancers, asthma exacerbations and affects the growth of babies in the womb. It also contributes to dangerous climate change, but even considering the toxic air pollution alone, replacing Loy Yang A with renewable energy by 2030 instead of 2035 would save hundreds of lives,” said Jennens.
25 health organisations and approximately 1000 Australian healthcare workers and students have signed an open letter to AGL urging the organisation to replace coal with renewable energy by 2030 to prevent potential health impacts.
The letter covers the health threats imposed by toxic air pollution and climate change.
A GP anesthetist in Gippsland Dr Benjamin Lewis said local communities are disproportionately affected by toxic air pollution from the coal power stations and are already vulnerable to bushfires and other health impacts triggered by climate change.
“[Monday’s] transition announcement is better than no plan at all, but we can and should save more lives by replacing coal with renewable energy by 2030 at the latest, which is why I’m supporting the Transform Renewable Energy Jobs Expo in Traralgon in October.
“We urge the Victorian government and AGL to collaborate to ensure a full transition to renewable energy by 2030 that protects people’s health from toxic air pollution and dangerous climate change,” said Jennens.