Doctors for the Environment Australia welcomes the NSW government’s commitment to halve emissions by 2030, describing it as a win-win-win for health, the environment and the economy.

DEA NSW Chair Dr Kim Loo says, “The announcement sends a strong message to the federal government that its 26-28% targets are unacceptably weak and out of step with the climate reality.

“In the face of worsening climate change, we need a national plan to slash climate pollution THIS decade, with strong targets that at the very least match the United States, the United Kingdom and other trading partners.”

Representing thousands of doctors and medical students across Australia, DEA recognises climate change as a health crisis- just like Covid19.

Dr Loo adds, ” As doctors, including GPs and emergency physicians, we are seeing the impacts of more frequent and intense heatwaves, bushfires and bushfire smoke, floods and storms in our surgeries and hospitals.

“The upcoming climate conference in Glasgow (COP26) is an opportunity for Australia to ramp up life-saving targets in line with the Paris commitment to keep temperature increases to a manageable 1.5 degrees.”

NSW joins Victoria , South Australia and other states and territories in reducing Australia’s climate pollution.

Ending coal-generated electricity is central to the NSW roadmap. DEA spokesperson Dr Ben Ewald who is based in Newcastle says this move will save lives especially for inland regional areas, where people suffer the worst effects of heat waves. It will also significantly improve the poor air quality in Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Valley.

While the NSW cuts to emissions are a positive step forward, these can be further improved with a transition to electric transport and a halt to land clearing.

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