March 7, 2022 - 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.
Climate Change
Human pressure on the natural environment is widening and escalating. Environmental threats to human wellbeing, health and survival has become evident over the past two to three decades.
Doctors for the Environment Australia seeks to raise awareness of the risks to local and global human health – present and future – from environmentally damaging and disruptive technological choices and related short-term economic priorities.
DEA is focussed on human-induced climate change, widely regarded as now the most serious, and growing, worldwide threat to human health and survival and to social stability.
In September 2019, Doctors for the Environment Australia declared a Climate Health Emergency and were supported by numerous medical organisations both in Australia and overseas.
Climate Change Resources
POLICY PAPER AND POSITION STATEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE
DEA Policy: Action on climate change and health – governance and strategy : the need for federal leadership and new Commonwealth laws to guide climate change mitigation and adaptation with a focus on present and future threats.
FACTSHEETS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Heatwaves and Health (Jan 2020)
Bushfires and Health: our fire-prone continent is at particular risk from the impacts of climate change, and we are experiencing more extreme heat events, an increase in severe fire danger days and a longer fire season. (Dec 2017)
Severe storms, floods and your health (March 2017)
How Climate Change Affects Your Health: The Facts (September 2021)
PowerPoint presentation that details why climate change and sustainability is core business for health professionals and an essential part of health education. (July 2018)
DEA SUBMISSIONS RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Zali Steggall’s climate change Bills (Nov 2020)
Submission to the public exhibition of the NSW Design and Place SEPP, and the Apartment Design Guide Feb 2022
March 3, 2022 - Doctors for the Environment Australia recently welcomed the opportunity to provide a submission to the NSW government on the health aspects of a revision of a State Environmental Planning Policy ...
Dr Kate Charlesworth: The IPCC report is a stark warning for Australia’s leaders with their current emissions trajectory
March 1, 2022 - Public health physician and DEA member Dr Kate Charlesworth commented on the recently released IPCC report in a Channel 7 News report. Conservation groups say the latest global report by ...
Dr Cybele Dey: The invisible impact of climate change
January 27, 2022 - Child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Cybele Dey is the Chair of the Mental Health Working Group and a member of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) based in Sydney. In ...
Dr John Iser: Some of these hot days are unliveable days
January 27, 2022 - Dr John Iser, Board member for Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) was interviewed by the Sydney Morning Herald along with Andrew Gissing, general manager of Risk Frontiers. January 27 ...
Dr Richard Yin: Heat waves are a real threat, we must cut emissions this decade
January 25, 2022 - Another day of 40 degrees. What does this mean for health. We know that over the last ten years that heat has caused the death of about 3000 Australians. But ...
The Hill: Climate change emergency cannot be solved by disintegrating democracies
January 5, 2022 - Our western democracies can no longer deliver consensus and action on issues that threaten humanity such as climate change, writes Dr David Shearman. Governments are unwilling to accept that many ...
Germanwatch: Australia 58th on the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)
November 8, 2021 - Australia slipped four places to 58th in this year’s CCPI, remaining behind many developed economies. Very low ratings were given for its performance in every category. DEA is not surprised that Australia’s rating on climate action has slipped and ...
Joint statement: Zero is good. Now we need to slash emissions in the most important decade of our lives
October 27, 2021 - We welcome the Morrison Government’s commitment to a target of net zero greenhouse gas pollution and now, to achieve this target, we expect the government to drive the slashing of ...
Report: How Climate Change Affects Mental Health In Australia
October 11, 2021 - – Climate change is increasingly driving more severe and frequent extreme weather events such as extreme heat, bushfires, storms and floods which have serious and wide-reaching impacts on the mental health of ...
Media release: NSW emissions cut welcome; now it’s time for Canberra to step up
September 29, 2021 - 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 ...
Young People’s Climate Anxiety is Valid; Not Caused By So-Called “Alarmist” Activism
September 2, 2021 - – Recent efforts by two Liberal MPs to link mental health problems in young people to “alarmist” climate activism in an effort to secure extra funding for the school chaplaincy ...
How Climate Change Affects Your Health: The Facts
August 30, 2021 - – We’re proud to launch our new briefing document: How Climate Change Affects Your Health: The Facts.
Climate Change and Sustainability: Leadership and Action from Australian Doctors
August 16, 2021 - Australia’s healthcare sector is estimated to contribute to 7% of Australia’s total carbon footprint, yet climate change is contributing to life-threatening illnesses and deaths. Many in the healthcare sector are ...
DEA joins statement from civil society organisations: Australia must slash climate pollution this decade
August 6, 2021 - August 6th, 2021 The political debate about climate change in Australia is stuck on whether the Federal Government should commit to net zero climate pollution by 2050. This is largely ...
Media release: Doctors slam the Morrison Government’s decision to reject Steggall’s climate bill
July 14, 2021 - Australia’s doctors are dismayed that the Morrison Government has rejected Zali Steggall’s climate change bill, which was tabled today, despite the need to protect public health from the deadly consequences ...
Independent Australia: Kids prepare another strike against government climate inaction
May 21, 2021 - Today, schoolchildren will again take to the streets to protest that Government policy is failing the next generation. Dr Graeme McLeay writes “to the young people coming out to demonstrate ...
DEA signs Open Letter from coalition of health groups to call for urgent climate action
May 3, 2021 - To read the open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, click here
Review of Tasmania’s Climate Change (State Action)Act 2008 and Climate Change Plan
April 21, 2021 - In this document DEA Tasmania outlines a pathway for Tasmania’s Climate Change Act and Climate Action Plan to address the complex interrelated problems of climate change and health. Key themes ...
Not fit for purpose: Australia needs independent Climate Change Authority
April 20, 2021 - By DEA member Graeme McLeay.