Pollution from coal power costs Turkey as much as 27% of its total health expenditure – new report

Turkey is pushing ahead with plans to double its coal power capacity with 30 new coal power stations despite major health impacts and costs linked to the country’s existing coal fleet. A new analysis by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) finds that the health impacts of coal pollution in Turkey currently generate economic costs of up to 10.9 billion EUR (or up to 99.37 billion Turkish Lira) annually, which is equivalent to up to 27% of its annual health expenditure. HEAL and seven leading Turkish health and medical organisations call for a coal phase out, as an essential step to protect people’s health, achieving cleaner air and tackling climate change.

Continue reading the whole report over on HEAL.