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Higgins: Take strong climate action this election

Melbourne doctors and medical students demand climate action now, for health’s sake

From Cairns to Curtin, Bondi to the Alice, Glenelg to Cottesloe; DEA members and Friends of DEA have been meeting with their members of Parliament and candidates. They are seeking an ambitious national plan to cut climate pollution this decade, the establishment of a National Sustainable Healthcare Unit, a national climate change and health strategy, along with the protection and restoration of nature.

DEA members getting postcards signed in Higgins (inner east Melbourne)

DEA members along with Friends of DEA were giving out postcards in Higgins (Inner East Melbourne).

They were talking to members of the public about the need for urgent political action on climate change as a natural extension of delivering preventative health care.

Melbourne medical student and DEA member Grace Simpson explains how health professionals can engage in climate advocacy in hospitals

Climate and Health Alliance and DEA’s co-branded Climate and Health Picnic in Melbourne

DEA co-led the Candidate’s Forum in Higgins in 2022

The 2022 Higgins Candidate Forum was held at Malvern Town Hall led by the Higgins Climate Action Network (DEA is a part of this network)

The event was a sell out with around 400 attendees. DEA was key to the event with DEA’s Dr Catherine Pendrey and Dr Will Howard as MC and moderator – and with two doctors among candidates, the importance of health was very clear.

Sitting Liberal MP Katie Allen was able to attend due to a last minute schedule change. The event was incredibly lively and the audience participation was positive, vibrant and robust. DEA had a stall and got the very last of our 800 postcards signed! These will be sent to the successful PM after the election to ensure that they remember the importance of climate action as health action.

2021 Higgins Climate and Health Forum led by DEA – this took place online due to Covid

Dear Prime Minister,

The electorate of Higgins and surrounds call on you to:



1. Adopt an ambitious national plan to cut climate pollution (emissions) this decade

To protect health, with strong, science-based targets that at minimum match our key allies and trading partners. This plan would include: 

  • banning new coal, gas and oil projects and ending public funding to fossil fuels;
  • accelerate transition to electric vehicles; and
  • delivery of 100% renewable electricity by 2030.

2. Establish a national Sustainable Healthcare Unit

To support environmentally sustainable practice in healthcare and reduce the sector’s own significant carbon emissions.

Targets for healthcare sector:

  • 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030,
  • net zero carbon emissions by 2040.

3. Develop a national climate change and health strategy:

  • to protect and maintain the health of all Australians by risk assessment, mitigation and adaptation planning for climate disruption and climate emergencies by all levels of government;
  • to make all levels of the healthcare sector – federal, state and community-based – more resilient through climate disaster, infrastructure and workforce planning.

4 Protect and restore nature through:

  • urgent reform of Australia’s environment protection laws – including implementing the recommendations of the 2020 review of EPBC Act (the Samuel Review);
  • ensuring Australia’s commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework are met.

Sign the postcard


Please keep me posted about the Climate Action for Health Campaign

Information obtained via this form is collected and shared with Hon Katie Allen MP & Prime Minister Scott Morrison for the purposes of the Climate Action for Health Campaign. It is not shared with any other third parties. For further information, please read DEA’s privacy policy.

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Join DEA’s doctors and tell the PM we want strong #climateaction in Higgins / #Melbourne. Let’s restore and repair nature so that our children and grandchildren can live healthy lives. Take #ClimateActionNow #TogetherWeCan #ForHealthsSake Sign here

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