Cremation and climate change

20 January 2004

Cremation contributes to climate change

Natural Burials says New Zealanders should commit to a natural burial as part of their contribution to the Government’s ‘4 million careful owners’ climate change campaign, because it will reduce the amount of pollution caused by cremations.

Mark Blackham, Director of Natural Burials, said today that international studies showed cremations emitted pollutants known to poison the atmosphere in ways that contribute to global warming.

He said cremations were significant emitters of nitrous oxides, which remained in the atmosphere for up to 100 years, and heavy metals (especially mercury from amalgam tooth fillings), which caused acid rain.

“Cremation turns you into air pollution and barren ash.

“That is not a pleasant or fitting legacy for our time on earth.

“If people are serious about reducing their impact on the environment, they should choose a natural burial. Natural burials reduce New Zealand’s total emission of climate changing component by:

1. not adding new pollutants to the atmosphere via cremation
2. giving natural nutrients back to the soil
3. funding and nourishing growth of new bush, which absorbs some greenhouse gases

He said studies of crematorium emissions showed people were turned into 46 different pollutants, including:

• CO2 (carbon monoxide)
• Nitrous oxide
• Sulphur oxide
• Mercury
• Dioxin
• Sulfur dioxide
• Hydrogen chloride
• Hydrogen fluoride
• Cadmium
• Chromium

Mr Blackham said that although emissions from cremations were a comparatively small percentage of total national emissions internationally, they still featured as statistically significant. For example, The OSPARCOM-HELCOM-UNECE Emission Inventory indicates that crematoria contribute 0.2 % of the total emissions of dioxins and furans – some of the most environmentally destructive and long lasting pollutants.

“If people are looking for ways of reducing their contribution to climate changing emissions, a practical and simple way is to commit to a natural burial”, Mr Blackham said.

People can commit to a natural burial by signing up at www.naturalburials.co.nz.

Natural Burials was set up in 1999 create and run natural cemeteries. Its senior personnel and advisory group consists of doctors, ecologists, environmentalists, funeral directors, and business-people from around the country. It is linked to the UK-based Natural Death Centre, and adheres to the Code of Practice of the Association of Natural Burial Grounds.

Ends

Contact
Mark Blackham,
Natural Burials Director
Ph: 021 891 042

Some sources:

1. European Environment Agency
a. EMEP/CORINAIR Emission Inventory Guidebook - 3rd edition October 2002 UPDATE. (http://reports.eea.eu.int/EMEPCORINAIR3/en)
b. Cremation, Incineration of Corpses (http://reports.eea.eu.int/EMEPCORINAIR3/en/B991vs1.1.pdf)

2. US Environmental Protection Agency. Crematorium emissions study 1999. Funded by CANA, the Crematorium Association of North America
3. A 1999 report from San Francisco’s Public Works Department found that crematoria were the third-highest contributor of mercury in the region
4. California Air Resources Board (CARB), 1992. Evaluation Test on Two Propane-Fired Crematories at Camellia Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Test Report No. C-90-004. October 29, 1992.
5. FIRE, 1995. FIRE Version 5.0, EPA-454/R-95-012, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards,