In NSW, five coal-fired power stations – Liddell, Eraring, Mt Piper, Bayswater and Vales Point – pump out some of the most toxic pollutants to human health.
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Toxic pollution from coal-burning power stations is seriously harming community health. Breathing dirty air is giving kids asthma, making babies underweight, and leading to strokes, heart attacks and lung cancer.
Our governments and EPAs have a responsibility to safeguard the health of all Australians and prevent toxic pollution from harming our environment and killing people.
But right now, despite their serious impacts, pollution limits on Australia’s coal-burning power stations lag way behind most other countries including China, India and the US. Air pollution standards in NSW are far weaker than the standards recommended by the World Health Organisation.
We are working with communities at the frontline to use the law to safeguard community health.
We are advocating and litigating for real pollution controls and ensuring power station operators clean up their toxic mess – to make sure no one has to worry about the quality of the air they – or their children – breathe.
We’ve done some big things in NSW over the last few years. Together, we’ve:
- Held the Environment Protection Authority accountable for letting coal power stations get away with emitting dangerous levels of hazardous pollutants like nitrogen oxide
- Skilled up and supported communities to make submissions calling for stronger Clean Air
- Advocated for better air pollution laws based on best practice pollution controls for coal fired power stations
- Called for best practice rehabilitation of toxic coal ash dumps and the proper implementation of the findings from the Coal Ash Inquiry
- Spoken out about breaches of laws and licences by coal fired power station operators like Delta Electricity and AGL
- Demanded better air pollution policies informed by health-based evidence.
But there’s still a long road ahead to ensure the communities who have helped power our homes, schools and lives aren’t living with the burden of health impacts from toxic coal pollution.
Our governments and EPAs must put the health of our communities and environment before the interests and profits of coal companies.
These corporations often try to get away with doing as little as possible regardless of the consequences on community health. They cannot be allowed to get away with it any longer.
Because breathing is non-negotiable.