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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/19/qa-panellists-spar-over-coal-as-energy-debate-dominates
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Q&A: panellists spar over coal as energy debate dominates | Q&A: panellists spar over coal as energy debate dominates |
| (4 months later) | |
| Doctor says respiratory and cardiovascular implications of coal should be top of Australia’s energy debate and warns Adani mine threatens health of millions | |
| Ben Doherty | |
| Mon 18 Sep 2017 22.38 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 18 Sep 2017 22.39 BST | |
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| The health implications of coal-fired power should be a main concern in Australia’s debate over energy generation, doctors have argued. | The health implications of coal-fired power should be a main concern in Australia’s debate over energy generation, doctors have argued. |
| Speaking on the ABC’s Q&A program, the chair of Doctors for the Environment New South Wales, Dr John Van Der Kallen, asked panellists why health was not a primary consideration in the discussion over the closure of coal-fired power stations such as the Liddell plant in the Hunter Valley “when we know that the pollution from these coal-fired power stations contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular illness, as well as premature death?” | Speaking on the ABC’s Q&A program, the chair of Doctors for the Environment New South Wales, Dr John Van Der Kallen, asked panellists why health was not a primary consideration in the discussion over the closure of coal-fired power stations such as the Liddell plant in the Hunter Valley “when we know that the pollution from these coal-fired power stations contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular illness, as well as premature death?” |
| Doctors for the Environment also oppose the proposed Adani coalmine in Queensland, which if built, will be the largest in Australia, and one of the largest in the world. | Doctors for the Environment also oppose the proposed Adani coalmine in Queensland, which if built, will be the largest in Australia, and one of the largest in the world. |
| “It will significantly increase Australia’s contribution to international carbon emissions and threaten the health of millions of people in Australia and around the world.” | “It will significantly increase Australia’s contribution to international carbon emissions and threaten the health of millions of people in Australia and around the world.” |
| Emma Herd, chief executive of the Investor Group on Climate Change, said health concerns over coal-fired power were driving movement to renewables in other parts of the world. | Emma Herd, chief executive of the Investor Group on Climate Change, said health concerns over coal-fired power were driving movement to renewables in other parts of the world. |
| “You only have to look at China which is grappling with some really substantial and quite dangerous health impacts on the community in terms of not having heavily regulated the coal-fired power industry and not managing the health implications of coal-fired generation.” | “You only have to look at China which is grappling with some really substantial and quite dangerous health impacts on the community in terms of not having heavily regulated the coal-fired power industry and not managing the health implications of coal-fired generation.” |
| Herd said governments and business needed to take into account the physical and environmental effects of different types of energy generation. | Herd said governments and business needed to take into account the physical and environmental effects of different types of energy generation. |
| “Interestingly enough, it is this very driver of managing environmental pollution which is actually now the basis of so much of China’s actions in terms of being a world leader in investing in renewable energy, taking it to more than 50% of global investment in renewable energy in the last few years.” | “Interestingly enough, it is this very driver of managing environmental pollution which is actually now the basis of so much of China’s actions in terms of being a world leader in investing in renewable energy, taking it to more than 50% of global investment in renewable energy in the last few years.” |
| Why is health not a consideration in closure of coal fired power stations? @MichaelSukkarMP & @emmalherd respond #QandA pic.twitter.com/594EK9ladY | Why is health not a consideration in closure of coal fired power stations? @MichaelSukkarMP & @emmalherd respond #QandA pic.twitter.com/594EK9ladY |
| The assistant minister to the treasurer, Michael Sukkar, said Australia’s energy’s policy needed to be a balance between reliability, affordability and environmental concerns. | The assistant minister to the treasurer, Michael Sukkar, said Australia’s energy’s policy needed to be a balance between reliability, affordability and environmental concerns. |
| “The government has a focus, we want to ensure reliability, we want to assure affordability, and, of course, we want to meet our emissions reduction targets – 26 to 28% under the Paris accord. We are focused on those three objectives.” | “The government has a focus, we want to ensure reliability, we want to assure affordability, and, of course, we want to meet our emissions reduction targets – 26 to 28% under the Paris accord. We are focused on those three objectives.” |
| Sukkar said each objective needed to be carefully weighed against the others. | Sukkar said each objective needed to be carefully weighed against the others. |
| “Of course, the environmental objective … is one very important one. But we do have to manage this transition and … at the end of the day, when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining … everyone around the country still expects to be able to switch their lights on and know that it’s going to be there. | “Of course, the environmental objective … is one very important one. But we do have to manage this transition and … at the end of the day, when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining … everyone around the country still expects to be able to switch their lights on and know that it’s going to be there. |
| “That’s what we need. Now, coal for the foreseeable future, will play a role in that. Of course, it’s playing a diminishing role over time, but in our lifetime, it will stay a big role.” | “That’s what we need. Now, coal for the foreseeable future, will play a role in that. Of course, it’s playing a diminishing role over time, but in our lifetime, it will stay a big role.” |
| When will the Federal Government formulate a comprehensive energy policy? @MichaelSukkarMP & @SenatorWong #QandA pic.twitter.com/2n5lDUUvDf | When will the Federal Government formulate a comprehensive energy policy? @MichaelSukkarMP & @SenatorWong #QandA pic.twitter.com/2n5lDUUvDf |
| Q&A | |
| Coal | |
| Energy | |
| (Australia news) | |
| Health | |
| Pollution | |
| Adani Group | |
| news | |
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