Social cost of carbon refers to the economic cost or loss in the discounted value of economic welfare induced by an additional unit of carbon dioxide emissions.
The generation of power from coal based thermal power plants is based on the combustion of coal as fuel and thus generate emissions that contribute to increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Health Costs of Carbon
The health impact of coal combustion is manifested in the form of negative impact on the respiratory system, cardiovascular diseases, neurological effects, etc.
This is in addition to the health impacts on the coalminers who are at a higher risk of chronic bronchitis and other lung diseases.
The annual number of deaths linked to coal-based power plants pollution is estimated to be around 115000 and the total monetary cost is around US$ 4.6 billion.
