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Nova Scotia must act on greenhouse gas emissions

Published in the Cape Breton Post / November 26, 2024 - See Original


Nova Scotia's extracting and burning of coal for electricity generation is a direct contributor to the climate crisis.


But there is one fact that receives very little public attention: coal is dirtier than you think. It's known to be high in a tar-like substance called bitumen, mercury, sulphur and a major source of methane gas, which all indirectly affect human health.

Years ago, CBC TV News reported that the Donkin mine would release one million tonnes of greenhouse gases annually.


Over nine years later, the methane emissions being released directly into the atmosphere remain an incredibly powerful air pollutant and a climate crisis multiplier that the provincial environmental regulator is avoiding.


Methane warms the atmosphere 84 times as much as carbon dioxide on a 20-year time scale.


The European Unions Earth Observation Agency announced that 2024 is virtually certain to be the hottest year on record. Nova Scotians are feeling the effects through intense heat waves, tropical storms, disastrous floods and destructive wildfires, which releases an enormous amount of fine particulate pollution matter (also known as PM 2.5) a source of premature deaths.


A new global data map from Climate TRACE, that anyone can use to explore their local sources of atmosphere-warming pollution, shows that the gassy Cape Breton coal mine released over five million tons of greenhouse gases.


Unfortunately, the scale of the problem is likely much bigger than many Nova Scotians realize because the above emissions are based on estimates, an unfortunate consequence of the lack of comprehensive independent monitoring by the provincial regulator.

By the way, the aforementioned Climate TRACE map also reveals that the Lingan power generation station released an additional 4.5 million tons of carbon dioxide.


Studies have shown that communities situated near coal burning and coal extraction industries have significantly negative air quality and health outcomes, increasing health care capacity-stress and expense.


Clean air is fundamental to health. This is why the Ontario and Alberta governments expedited the stoppage of burning coal years ahead of the 2030 deadline to improve their health care system.


I believe that the Nova Scotia government must act on greenhouse gas emissions to improve air quality, to reduce chronic morbidity and mortality rates and to significantly improve our health-care system.


Armed with the knowledge of how extracting and burning coal affects air quality and community health, residents can be powerful advocates for change by directing their concerns and complaints to the provincial industrial regulator the minister of environment.


Unfortunately, when it comes to protecting human health and the environment from harmful industrial activity, the track record of the Nova Scotia government is disheartening.

In reality, community concerns for coastal protection, industrial noise pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and calls for an industrial carbon tax are too often ignored by the minister.


Therefore, it is essential for resident-centred action to support a legally enforceable framework to a healthy environment in Nova Scotia.


Together, we can all make a difference by calling on party leaders to commit to enacting a Bill of Environmental Rights and Responsibilities that says the Government of Nova Scotia has a legal responsibility to protect community health and the environment for present and future generations.


Michael Lea Power Beyond Coal

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