Air quality, health and toxics impacts of the proposed coal power cluster in Chattogram, Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a country profoundly affected by air pollution with the unfolding of the COVID-19 epidemic elevating the risk of air pollution. The country has an eight coal-fired power plant project planned in Cox’s Bazar, a city in South Eastern Bangladesh, making it the biggest proposed coal-fired power cluster in the world. Since the location is densely populated and the plants lack strict emission standards, the power plant cluster is exposing a great number of inhabitants to unhealthy levels of air pollutants. The emissions would be responsible for an estimated 30,000 air pollution-related deaths over an operating life of 30 years. The air pollutants released from the plants would also increase other health impacts, for instance new cases of asthma and preterm births.

Read the full report in Bangla

(English below)

Lauri Myllyvirta, Lead Analyst

Partners: BAPA, Waterkeeper Alliance

Bangladesh