Phasing out coal by 2030 could prevent more than 1,000 premature deaths, reduce hundreds of emergency room visits and produce billions of dollars worth of health benefits between 2015 and 2035, says the Pembina Institute. Nearly 90 per cent of these benefits would happen in Alberta and Saskatchewan, according to the institute's report Out with the Coal, In with the New. The report drew the ire of Premier Brad Wall, who has stood opposed to the carbon tax initiative announced last month. Benefits of coal-free livingDr. Ryan Meili spoke out in favour of the phase-out, saying burning coal causes health problems in three ways: air pollution, mercury exposure and climate change. "There are lots of ways in which continuing to be stuck on this path of producing electricity through coal puts us at risk of greater economic problems," Meili said.

Source: CBC News November 22, 2016 11:26 UTC