November 22, 2022 - DEA welcomes the development of new climate change environmental quality objectives, guidelines, and policy by the NSW EPA, in recognition of its duty under the POEA act. We would like ...
Our Work
Human health depends upon a healthy environment.
The current age of scientific innovation has meant humans have become a dominant influence in shaping the natural world. This has raised the stakes and meant an unprecedented capacity to degrade our natural environment.
While great progress has been made in improving human health, particular in Australia and other OECD countries, local and global environmental degradation now threaten those gains.
DEA urges governments to address the current and future impacts of environmental degradation on human health.
Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) is an organisation of doctors who recognise that human health and wellbeing require an environment:
- free of pollution
- capable of providing nutritious food
- rich in biodiversity
- able to provide for current and future generations sustainably.
Surgeons first to sign up to new green guidelines
November 18, 2022 - The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) has become the first medical college in Australia to sign up to the newly released Green College Guidelines. The guidelines, which have been ...
Media Release: Climate Change Performance Index ranks Australia 55
November 15, 2022 - Members of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) are disappointed their country has been ranked 55 in the recent release of the Germanwatch Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI). While Australia ...
Media Release: Victorian Government urged to end native forest logging
November 10, 2022 - As the federal government considers joining the global push to halt deforestation by 2030 at COP27 this week, the Victorian government is facing calls at home to end native forest ...
Medicos pressing for greater climate action
November 4, 2022 - “This is a public health crisis….It is really important for the health sector to step up and speak out about it” says Dr Kim Loo. Dr Kim Loo DEA’s NSW ...
AMA / DEA Media Release: Impact of climate change on public health recognised in the federal budget
October 26, 2022 - The Australian Medical Association and Doctors for the Environment Australia say the federal government’s budget commitment to establish a National Health Sustainability and Climate Unit is a big win in ...
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 ...
MJAInsight: Climate change and sustainability: leadership, action from doctors
August 15, 2022 - When we think of carbon emissions, we don’t often think of healthcare’s substantial contribution. Yet, in Australia alone, this sector is responsible for 7% of our national carbon emissions. Australia’s ...
AMA/DEA Media Release: Governments and the healthcare sector must lead on climate change
August 10, 2022 - Australian doctors are pushing for greater buy-in from the health care sector to reduce its carbon footprint and are urging further action from medical colleges who signed up to a ...
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 ...
Media release: Australia deserves certainty on net zero target
April 27, 2022 - 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.
Hope is not a method – we must act now to decarbonise the health sector
April 21, 2022 - Are we able to reimagine a world where clean air, water and food are available to all? Where economies are focused on health and well-being? Where cities are liveable and ...
DEA: All Electric Hospital Guide
March 24, 2022 - DEA’s sustainable health care Special Interest Group (SIG) have released a new guide for medical practitioners. ‘Building the next zero hospital to be net zero carbon emissions (all-electric): A six ...
Dr Carolyn Orr for TEDxUWA: End fossil fuels to protect human health
March 23, 2022 - Perth neurologist and DEA member Dr Carolyn Orr is a fearless and inspiring campaigner and public speaker, and a powerful advocate against fossil fuels in the interest of human health. ...
Dr Richard Yin: People ask about the cost of action. We should also be asking, what is the cost of inaction of climate change.
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.
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 ...
AMA and DEA outline plan to reduce healthcare’s carbon footprint to top health bureaucrats
February 27, 2022 - The AMA and DEA outlined their plans to heads of state and federal health departments to reduce the healthcare sector’s carbon footprint.
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 ...
DEA welcomes the news of the early retirement of Eraring coal power station
February 17, 2022 - Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) welcomes the announcement of early retirement of Eraring coal power station. Origin has outlined how security of electricity supply will be maintained, and that ...