Dr Richard Yin, DEA member and Perth GP has written this powerful letter to the editor for The Post.
The science is very clear that climate change is being caused by fossil fuel combustion. It is also very clear that this will have enormous health impacts both locally and globally, so much so that the Australian Medical Association has described it as a public health emergency.
This summer we have already seen the direct impacts of heatwaves, bushfires and floods in many Australian states.
Each one of these has a potential health impact. The climatic trend and impacts are becoming more and more apparent.
How many bushfires each summer will we be able to manage? How many floods will be experience? How long does it take for communities to recover from each disaster before the next is upon them?
How long will the psychological scars remain on those affected?
People often ask about the cost of action. We should also be asking what is the cost of inaction?
We are selling our children’s future when we should be protecting and conserving the natural world that so many of us have had the opportunity to enjoy.
As the world moves to a low carbon future, Australia with its abundance of sun and wind should be leading the transition and positioning itself economically to take advantage of the change.
Climate care is health care
Take climate action now – for health’s sake