ACC responds to papal encyclical

The American Coal Council (ACC) has released a statement responding to the papal encyclical on the environment.

“The Pope’s encyclical on climate change offers the opportunity for the global community to thoughtfully consider quality of life issues and human betterment,” the ACC said. “Access to affordable energy and electricity must be a primary objective. At least 1.3 of the 7 billion people in the world have no electricity access at all and more than double that number have inadequate access to it. Basic needs of clean water, sanitation, medical care, lighting, and warmth and cooling are impossible to meet without electricity. Coal is a critical input for meeting those needs, fuelling about 40% of the world’s electricity.”

“Consideration of human betterment goes hand-in-hand with healthy economies, and healthy economies support environmental success,” the ACC continued, noting that in the US emissions of SOX, NOX and mercury from coal-fired power plants have been reduced by nearly 90% over the past four decades.

“The investments made to achieve lower emissions have resulted in off-the-shelf technologies being available worldwide for emissions improvements,” the ACC concluded.

Written by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/19062015/acc-responds-to-papal-encyclical-on-the-environment-2448/