"The Inconsistent “Coal-Free Pledge” of Korea’s National Pension Service: An analysis on the air pollution and health damage caused by the NPS’ coal investment," 20 June 2023

[...] This first-of-its-kind study from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) analyzes the air pollution and health impacts of the Korean National Pension Service’s national coal investment, and the consequent economic losses over the past two years since their coal-free declaration in 2021 that has yet to be implemented.

Key findings of the report

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• Between 2021 and 2022, exposure to air pollution from coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in South Korea is estimated to have caused approximately 1,970 deaths. Approximately 11.2%, 2202, can be linked to the NPS through its investment in domestic coal power plants. 
• Health and economic impacts as a result of air pollution from coal in the country also include approximately 580 new cases of asthma in children, 280 preterm births, over 800,000 days of work absence (sick leave days), and 560 asthma-related emergency room visits in South Korea for 2021 and 2022 combined. Of these, the NPS-linked number of cases is 67 new cases of asthma in children, 32 preterm births, 90,690 days of work absence, and approximately 63 asthma emergency room visits. 
• The total costs of exposure to air pollution from CFPPs in South Korea between 2021 and 2022 amounted to approximately USD 10 billion (KRW 12.9 trillion4) in healthcare and welfare expenditures. Of these, around USD 1.1 billion (KRW 1.4 trillion) can be attributed to the NPS’ investment in domestic coal. 

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