The benefits of decarbonised electricity generation in cities

While prior national level and regional studies have evaluated the contribution of coal combustion on air quality-related health impacts at the national or regional level, a concrete understanding of how coal combustion impacts urban populations can make a strong case for the rapid phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation in cities around the world. Project aims: (1) demonstrate a strong urban case for a rapid-phase out of coal-fired electricity generation; and (2) utilise the research results for an effective advocacy and communications campaign at COP26. In the research project, C40 will estimate the contribution of coal combustion for C40 city electricity generation to global GHG emissions, to air quality-related health burdens in C40 cities, to COVID-19-related health impacts as well as analyse the economic benefits of different coal phase-out scenarios by looking at: (1) the economic value of improved health associated with reduced coal combustion for electricity generation in C40 cities; and (2) the number of net jobs that are generated with a switch from coal combustion to clean energy.