Coal is a fossil fuel that harms the health of Australians. Coal causes a number of illnesses, particularly heart and lung diseases, stroke and cancers.
In Australia alone, coal contributes to hundreds of premature deaths a year, as well as asthma symptoms in thousands of children.
Burning coal and other fossil fuels like petrol and gas, harms our health by worsening climate change which drives extreme weather such as heat waves, floods, bushfires and storms.
Coal costs our health at all stages of production and use – from mining, transport and burning to disposal of ash waste.
Phasing out coal-fired electricity and replacing it with clean power will greatly improve our health.
How Coal Harms Your Health Fact Sheet - PDF (Aug 2024)