Emissions from German coal-fired power plants are set to be responsible for a projected 26,000 attributable deaths between 2022 and 2038. The social costs related to the associated healthcare, reduced economic productivity and welfare losses amount to an estimated present value of €73 billion.

Requiring power plants that are allowed to operate beyond 2030 to apply best available air pollutant emissions control technology would reduce the number of air pollution-related attributable deaths by 65%, to 9,200 and costs to €21 billion. Bringing forward the coal phase-out to 2030, in line with the necessary carbon cuts for developed countries to uphold the Paris Agreement, would further halve the health impacts.

Find the full publication in German on ClientEarth.