Phasing out coal-fired electricity will have positive impacts on the health of Albertans

United Nurses of Alberta President Heather Smith joined Health Minister Sarah Hoffman, Environment & Parks Minister Shannon Phillips, and representatives of the Alberta Medical Association and the Asthma Society of Canada at a press conference today to speak to the need for Alberta to phase out coal emissions.

“Nurses work every day with Albertans young and old who suffer from reparatory ailments,” said Smith. “So we were pleased with the Alberta government’s plan to phase out coal-fired electricity generation because it will have a positive impact on the health of Albertans and on the sustainability of our health care system.”

The Alberta government released its plan to take action on climate change on Nov. 22, 2015. Part of that plan includes the phasing out of coal emissions by 2030. To accomplish this goal, the government plans to replace two thirds of existing coal electricity with renewable energy.

“Right now, 55 per cent of Alberta’s electricity is generated by coal, and coal pollution causes respiratory illness in more people than any other way of generating energy,” said Hoffman. “It’s time for Alberta to move to cleaner sources of electricity, and that’s what we’re going to do by reaching zero coal emissions.”

“As trade unionists, we were also pleased the government chose to make this change in a way designed to mitigate the impact on Albertans who work in the coal industry,” said Smith.