Doctors are demanding that the Scott Morrison Government puts policies in place to avoid the worst climate catastrophes, after the release today of the landmark IPCC report into climate change.

Medical group Doctors for the Environment Australia’s national chair Dr John Van Der Kallen says, “The very clear take home message from the report is that there is still a chance of keeping global warming to the manageable level of below 1.5 degrees– if we take action this decade.

“This report is, however, a wakeup call about the stark reality of the state of the planet and the incalculable risks to the health of all Australians- ourselves, on those we love, and on our communities, if we fail to take bold and rapid action.

“Current Government policy is the primary determinant for whether Australia will do its fair share to stay within this target.

“The policy void around making the transition from coal and gas, which are major sources of climate pollution, to renewables is a political problem– not a scientific or technological one.

“Coming just before COP26- the important climate meeting in Glasgow in November – this report will give our government the most up-to-date information about climate change so that they go to the COP26 negotiating table with credible plans based on the science.

“The impacts of burning of fossil fuels on a grand scale are evident.

“In recent years, Australia has seen record-breaking catastrophic bushfires, while the world has also seen record-breaking wildfires, extreme heatwaves and devastating flooding.”

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a UN body set up in 1988 to assess the science around climate change and its Assessment Reports – published every five to eight years – have heavily influenced international agreements

Link to the report HERE

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