Media release Tuesday, 26 April.
Doctors for the Environment are calling for certainty on Australia’s net zero by 2050 emissions reduction target, amid mixed messages from the Coalition.
DEA deputy Chair Dr Kimberly Humphrey said that a recent Australia Institute survey showed that fossil fuels were costing Australia $22,000 per minute. Subsidies for fossil fuels noted in the AI survey showed that the cost of $11.6 billion in 2021-22 was across federal, state and territory governments.
She said this marks a 12 per cent increase on the 2021-2022 total of $10.3 billion after the federal government increased subsidies to the tune of $1.4 billion.
Dr Humphrey said this was not a firm commitment to net zero. She was responding to comments made in Queensland by LNP contender for the seat of Flynn, Colin Boyce who said that net zero was a flexible plan and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who added that the government’s commitment to net zero was not binding.
Mr Joyce added there was no legislation attached to previous promises of net zero.
Dr Humphrey said strong climate policy would improve the health of all Australians.
“Heat-related deaths and other health issues associated with climate change are severely impacting the health and wellbeing of communities around Australia.
“Children born today are likely to face seven times more extreme weather events than their grandparents, which is threatening for youth.
“The rate of suicide among young people is also increasing with the threat of global warming and this needs to be prevented by young people able to see we are doing something to save the planet.”
Dr Kimberly Humphry is available for interview on 0402 217 037.
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