HEAL’s office in Turkey focuses on ambient air quality, and the threat to health of coal power generation. Massive investments into new coal power plants in the country are being planned, while in the last ten years coal power generation doubled and fossil fuel power generation increased by 150%.
We raise awareness about health-harming air pollution, engage with leading national medical organisations and specialised disease associations, as well as local health and environment professionals, enable the communication between the health sector and decision makers, and conduct campaigns and research. We also run the Unmask My City campaign and are a partner in the Europe Beyond coal efforts.
Contact person:
Funda Gacal, funda@env-health.org, +90 506 251 2186
Press release: EU action on Western Balkans’ chronic coal pollution is a unique opportunity to improve health and productivity
18th February 2019
Sixteen outdated coal power plants in the Western Balkans are a public health and economic liability for the whole of Europe, with people in the EU bearing the majority of the health impacts and costs, according to a new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Sandbag, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, CEE Bankwatch Network and Europe Beyond Coal. The European Union (EU) needs to use all of the tools available to improve health, prolong lives, save health costs and increase productivity both in the EU and in the Western Balkan region.
Step forward for health protection in Turkey: Proposal to extend the pollution exemptions given to privatised coal power plants withdrawn
15th February 2019
Last night, 14 February, all political parties in the Turkish Parliament agreed to withdraw a…
Turkish Parliament will vote about polluting coal power plants next week
1st February 2019
Incentives and pollution exemptions given to the privatised coal power plants can be extended until…
Coal phase out for health overdue
10th December 2018
A new briefing by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) (also available in German and and Turkish) demonstrates that 50% of the global lignite mining and use is taking place in Europe. Lignite coal – also called brown coal – is a form of coal that is highly inefficient and polluting. Assessing lignite and hard coal over their life cycles shows that lignite is the most health harming form of coal and should be abolished as soon as possible.
