Experts Caution Over Coal Usage in Asia

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(ODISHA SUN TIMES) With increasing dependence of Asian countries on coal-driven power, public health experts Tuesday said “addiction” of nations to coal coupled with climate change effects pose a “serious” threat to health equity.

According to Peter Orris, professor and chief of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, in the US, south Asia will garner a “good deal” of attention in the coal-climate change link.

“Asia is the major producer and consumer of coal globally, even surpassing US. So Asia has really taken over and if we are going to make any headway then there has to be a change in approach in Asia to tackle greenhouse gases and climate change,” Orris said at the 14th World Congress on Public Health here.

He was speaking at the session on ‘Climate Change, Air Quality and Health: Impacts of Energy Choices’.

According to the WHO, approximately seven million premature deaths per year result from exposure to air pollution, making it the world’s largest environmental health risk.

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