As part of a project that seeks to accelerate the decarbonization of the Colombian energy sector through regulatory, environmental, and economic strategies related to the operation of coal-fired power plants, the CAI was chosen to develop some activities within the thematic area "Environmental policies to discourage the use of fossil fuels." These activities aim to estimate the health impacts of three coal-fired power plants in Colombia through a collaborative effort with POLEN Transiciones Justas, which leads and coordinates this work. The activities include:

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• Developing a diagnosis of the current situation in the area of influence of three coal-fired power plants located in central and northwestern Colombia (Termozipa, Termopaipa, and Termoguajira).

• Conducting air quality modeling to estimate the impact of the thermoelectric plants in terms of air quality, using Lagrangian puff-type modeling that also considers the formation of secondary particulate matter. This modeling will include the current scenario with the thermoelectric plants in operation and a hypothetical scenario of taking these emission sources out of operation.

• Evaluating health impacts using the BenMAP (Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program) software for the modeled scenarios.

• Participating in dialogue spaces with key stakeholders to analyze and discuss the results of the study.

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The results of this collaborative study between both organizations, and its discussion with various key stakeholders, provide a basis for decision-making, with the aim of promoting mitigation actions and public policies focused on protecting the health of communities in the area of influence of the thermoelectric plants, improving air quality in the country, and promoting a just energy transition.