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The true cost of coal power: Why air pollution kills more than a million people every year?
Coal-fired power occupies an important position in the global energy industry. According to statistics, there are about 2,500 coal-fired power plants in the world, contributing about one-third of electricity each year. However, the cost of operating these power stations is difficult to ignore. Health studies estimate that air pollution from coal-fired power causes more than 1 million premature deaths each year, a figure that has sparked much discussion about the future of coal power.
"The threat to health from air pollution caused by coal burning cannot be underestimated."
How coal-fired power works
The operation of coal-fired power plants is relatively complex. The coal is crushed into powder and burned in boilers to generate heat, which in turn converts water into steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity. However, carbon dioxide and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) released by coal combustion are major sources of air pollution.
The impact of air pollution
Particulate matter released by coal-fired power plants includes sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and heavy metals, which not only cause the deterioration of air quality, but also further cause various health problems such as asthma and cardiovascular disease. The use of low-quality coal, especially in China, India and some Southeast Asian countries, has exacerbated the problem.
The link between health and coal power"In some countries, the operation of coal-fired power plants poses a significant threat to public health."
Studies show that coal-fired power plants cause tens of thousands of deaths each year due to air pollution. According to statistics, in the United States alone, PM2.5 causes more than 460,000 premature deaths. Most of these deaths are due to health problems caused by long-term exposure to pollutants.
Challenges of governance solutions and new technologies
Although many countries have begun to adopt stricter emission standards and air pollution control measures, many countries, especially in the Western Balkans, India and South Africa, still have relatively loose management of coal-fired power plants, resulting in air pollution. Still rising."Despite challenges in developing countries, there is growing global consensus on reducing reliance on coal power."
The need to promote renewable energy
As the issue of climate change grows in severity, many countries have begun looking for renewable energy alternatives. According to the survey, global investment in wind and solar energy continues to rise. The popularization of renewable energy can not only reduce dependence on coal-fired power, but also reduce the impact on the environment and health.
Future Energy Policy
Internationally, many experts have called for an accelerated phase-out of coal-fired power, especially in OECD countries, which have set a goal of stopping coal-fired power operations by 2030 and achieving the same goal globally by 2040. However, there are still many economic and policy challenges in realizing this vision.
Conclusion"How to balance economic development and environmental protection is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed globally."
The health and environmental costs of coal-fired power far outweigh the economic benefits it generates. Future energy policies need to take more aggressive actions to reduce the operation of coal-fired power and focus on the development of renewable energy. Whether we can achieve sustained economic growth without relying on coal-fired power has become an important challenge we are facing now?
