November 30, 2023 - In the Future of Gas Strategy consultation paper, DEA finds that human health and wellbeing have been overlooked in favour of the economic interests of the fossil fuel industry along with short ...
Health & Energy
Health & Energy covers a lot of topics we hear about every day, fossil fuels including Coal and Gas, Renewable Energy, Transport, and The Built Environment.
Please click the titles below to read more about each of these topics.
Coal is a major source of rising greenhouse gas causing climate change. The burning of coal emits hazardous air pollutants, including particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, mercury and arsenic. Australia has one of the most carbon intensive and polluting electricity supplies in the world. By investing in renewable energy sources and rapidly transitioning from fossil fuels, we can save lives and improve health immediately due to improved local environments, prevent unmanageable climate change with its associated devastating health consequences, and make sound economic investments in Australia’s future. FACTSHEETS ON COAL Health Toll of Coal – each step of the coal to energy process negatively impacts human health (June 2017) Underground coal gasification (October 2012) DEA SUBMISSIONS RELATED TO BIODIVERSITY NSW inquiry into costs of dealing with coal ash repositories (Feb 2020) The fossil gas industry is a major source of the powerful greenhouse gas methane which is responsible for around 25% of global heating. Gas also contributes significantly to rising levels of carbon dioxide. FACTSHEETS ON OIL AND GAS #Turnoffthegas - VIDEO: Doctors for the Environment Australia members urge the Morrison Government to seek an alternative to a gas led recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Home gas appliances and your health (Dec 2019) – all gas burning appliances produce pollutants that can reduce indoor air quality, and cause or exacerbate illness Why doctors are concerned about a ‘gas-led recovery’ from the pandemic – Six FAQ Oil spills and health don’t mix – this fact sheet outlines the known health impacts of oil spills and the risks to the health of those who clean them up (June 2019) Underground coal gasification (October 2012) POLICY PAPER AND POSITION STATEMENT ON OIL AND GAS Onshore Oil and Gas Policy Background paper (2019) A comprehensive review of all referenced literature on the health harms of the mining of gas. By Professors David Shearman and Melissa Haswell. Onshore Oil and Gas Policy paper – Executive Summary (2019) The implications for human health and wellbeing of expanding gas mining in Australia Onshore Oil and Gas Mining and human health – DEA’s Position Statement Leadership on addressing climate change involves an urgent increase in the use of renewable energy to replace greenhouse gas-producing fossil fuels. The use of fossil fuels for energy production is harmful to health both within Australia and internationally. The co-benefits of renewable energy are a reduction in the huge health costs from fossil fuel pollution. A more rapid increase in renewable energy deployment is essential in fulfilling Australia’s commitment to green-house emission abatement and in holding world temperature rise to less than 2°C, in accordance with the Paris Agreement. Transport is both a major source of greenhouse gas increases and an important source of air pollution causing multiple health problems. Active transport in walking and cycling mitigates both these effects and reduces the incidence of diabetes, obesity and hypertension by reducing sedentary behaviours. Investment in efficient electrified public transport is an investment in health. Transport position statement – transport, climate change and air quality The way our public buildings and private dwellings are built and the sort of energy they require are important factors in mitigating climate change and optimising a liveable environment. Urban design to promote green spaces and reduce vehicle pollution brings multiple health benefits. Coal
Fossil Gas
Gas extraction is polluting. Good health is dependent on having clean air, clean water, a safe sustainable food supply and a stable climate. There are serious threats to these determinants of health from unconventional gas development. They relate to water, land and air pollution by chemicals used and mobilised in the process, water security, degradation of productive agricultural land, community health and loss of livelihood and landscape. Renewable Energy
Transport
The Built Environment
Middle Arm Industrial Precinct Submission
November 10, 2023 - The Middle Arm Precinct is a proposed 1,200-hectare industrial development that will be situated in Darwin Harbour, 13 km from Darwin’s CBD and within just 3 km of the major ...
THE HEALTH IMPACT OF MIDDLE ARM GAS PROCESSING
September 26, 2023 - NT Paediatrician Dr Louise Woodward warns of the health implications for the Darwin Region if gas processing proceeds at Middle Arm in Darwin. Click here to watch Dr Woodward’s powerful ...
Submission to the Inquiry on Home Electrification, Senate Economics Reference Committee
September 20, 2023 - DEA’s work is based on the premise that humans need a future with clean air and water, healthy soils capable of producing nutritious food, a stable climate, and a complex, ...
Media release: Health workers and consumers tell NSW Government “don’t make us cough up for Eraring”
September 11, 2023 - Health workers are calling on the NSW Government to stick to the Eraring coal power station’s current closure date for the sake of the community’s health. Ten health organisations, representing ...
Guardian: Fracking projects in NT risk exposing people to cancer and birth defects, report finds
September 6, 2023 - DEA National Chair Dr John Van Der Kallen has welcomed a comprehensive report, based on a review of over 300 peer-reviewed studies, that demonstrates the health risks of fracking projects. ...
Croakey: As Australia braces for summer, health sector urged to take strong stand against governments’ support for fossil fuels
September 5, 2023 - Global heating requires our urgent attention, writes Dr Richard Yin. Like COVID, this is a public health emergency, and the signs are everywhere that the threat is escalating, exactly as ...
The Canberra Times: What will Europe’s heat mean for us here in Australia?
July 28, 2023 - I’m concerned about what the implications of climate change will inevitably be for us, here in Australia, – especially over the coming summer, writes Kimberly Humphrey. As an emergency medicine ...
The Medical Republic: Doctors speak out against fracking in Beetaloo Basin
July 7, 2023 - Doctors are concerned about the impacts of fracking on their patients’ health, the environment and climate, and are urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to respond to NT’s decision to frack ...
Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Amendment (Using New Technologies to Fight Climate Change) Bill 2023
July 7, 2023 - DEA is opposed to the proposed Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Amendment (Using NewTechnologies to Fight Climate Change) Bill 2023 (the Bill). The Bill through ss19(7b) effectively sanctions and makes possible ...
Setting, measuring and achieving Australia’s emissions reduction targets
July 7, 2023 - Prepared by DEA members, Drs Genevieve Cowie, Vicki Kotsirilos, Graeme McLeay and Ben Ewald, our submission largely addresses health concerns associated with Australia’s emissions reduction and climate change. The two ...
Vehicle fuel efficiency standards for Australia
May 31, 2023 - Doctors for the Environment Australia applaud the proposal to introduce a Fuel Efficiency Standard and note that Australia’s vehicle standards are significantly behind every other developed country apart from Russia. ...
Submission to the Consultation Paper on Native Forest Wood Waste in the Renewable Energy Target
October 10, 2022 - Because of the serious environmental consequences of burning native forest biomass for electricity generation, no case can be made for its continuation.Importantly, the burning of native forest biomass adds to ...
North West Shelf Project Extension Appeal
July 8, 2022 - The EPA has recommended that the project be approved. Doctors for the Environment Australia disagrees. The EPA has not applied conditions that are its best endeavours, nor fully considered the ...
Northern Territory Environmental Protection Authority (NTEPA)for Santos’ proposed Darwin Pipeline Duplication Project
February 23, 2022 - NT DEA Chair Brooke Ah Shay states ” This project will generate significant greenhouse gas emissions, have significant negative environmental impacts on Darwin Harbour, and the Middle Arm LNG processing ...
Submission to the Low Emissions Technology Statement 2022
February 6, 2022 - There is much of positive value in the roadmap, including ultra-low cost solar, low emissions steel, aluminium, and potentially cement, charging infrastructure for electrified transport, and reducing livestock emissions. However, ...
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 Kate Charlesworth: Children are more at risk from gas stoves in the home
January 27, 2022 - Dr Kate Charlesworth, Doctors for the Environment member and public health physician was interviewed by ABC News Australia about the dangers of leaking methane from natural gas stoves. This poses ...
Hunter Power Project (Kurri Kurri Power Station)
August 17, 2021 - Doctors for the Environment Australia made a submission to the New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment In June 2021 in regards to the Kurri Kurri Power Station. ...
Beetaloo Cooperative Drilling Program
August 6, 2021 - DEA recently submitted a submission on the Industry Research and Development (BeetalooCooperative Drilling Program) Instrument. DEA has raised five key concerns about the Beetaloo Cooperative Drilling Program: The program will ...