Air pollution is the biggest environmental risk factor to human health in the Philippines.

With 10 GW of installed coal-fired power capacity, air pollution from coal is responsible for 630 air pollution-related deaths and USD 165 million annually. In the next decade, the cumulative impact will be 7,000 premature deaths, and an economic cost of approximately USD 2 Billion without stronger emissions standards.

This will worsen as another 9 GW of coal are currently in various stages of construction and permitting phases. This report “Air Quality & Health Impacts of Coal-fired Power in the Philippines” states that if the proposed CFPPs are commercialized by 2024, these new plants would result in almost 26,300 premature deaths over 40 years.