Hundreds of Australian health professionals have put their names to an open letter calling on the Victorian Premier to commit to a timeframe for shutting down coal fired power generation facilities in the Latrobe Valley.
Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), the Climate and Health Alliance and Healthy Futures organised the communication; which was delivered to Premier Andrews yesterday morning.
The doctors are concerned there is no solid plant to retire Latrobe Valley’s four ageing power plants; which includes Hazelwood Power Station. Hazelwood is referred to as one of the world’s filthiest power stations and Australia’s number one emitter of dioxins.
According to Environment Victoria, Hazelwood alone is responsible for almost 15 percent of Victoria’s annual greenhouse gas emissions and 3 percent of Australia’s. It also produces 7,800 tonnes of hydrochloric acid annually and consumes a staggering 27 billion litres of water a year.
DEA says Hazelwood incurs health and social costs estimated to be around $900 million per year.
Built in the 1960’s, Hazelwood was scheduled to be shuttered in 2005, but was given an extension by the Bracks Government.
Pollution from coal burning causes cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological diseases, cancers and contributes to reduced life expectancy in Latrobe Valley residents according to the DEA.
“Failure to act on our outdated coal industry is unconscionable, given the harm it has on public health,” says Professor Peter Brooks; Professorial Fellow at the Centre for Health Policy- School of Population and Global Health University of Melbourne.
“Doctors, nurses and other health professionals have a duty of care to our patients and we must speak out against coal much like we did in the anti-tobacco campaign.“
The group says there are good alternatives to coal-fired power and a planned transition to clean energy sources such as wind and solar power will not only improve health, but employment prospects in the Latrobe Valley.
“The Victorian Government has a golden opportunity to lock in better health outcomes for people in the Latrobe Valley,” said Professor Rob Moodie, Director of Teaching and Learning at the Melbourne School of Population Health.
“Residents of the Valley have suffered enough from the health impacts of coal pollution. As a former Minister for Health, Premier Andrews understands the need to create a healthier future, as well as an economically brighter future for those in the Valley.”
The content of the open letter and signatories can be viewed here.
