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‘We want change’: GPs fight for climate action inside Parliament
In a new ‘Fossil Fuels are a Health Hazard’ report, GPs say climate change must be addressed in the same way as smoking has been.
The ‘Fossil Fuels are a Health Hazard’ being launched at Parliament House in Canberra.
Climate pollution is Australia’s, and the world’s, biggest killer, that is according to an alarming new report which is warning GPs of the health hazards of the worsening issue.
Released at Canberra’s Parliament House on Wednesday, the ‘Fossil Fuels are a Health Hazard‘ report described climate changes as the ‘biggest public health risk humanity has faced’.
‘Similar to addressing the health impacts of tobacco by first quitting smoking, to address the health impacts of fossil fuels we must first quit coal, oil and gas,’ the report says.
To coincide with the report, a new ‘Smoke Kills’ advertising campaign has been launched, demanding the Australian Government end fossil fuel advertising, and further linking it to the harm of smoking.
Already, the report states, air pollution has led to 8.1 million deaths globally per year, and is increasing rates of asthma, heart disease, cancer, learning delays, and poor pregnancy outcomes.
In Australia, is says 36,000 people died due to extreme heat between 2006–17, as well as significant increases in rates of domestic violence.
Currently, more than 20% of Australians are vulnerable to heat based on age alone, in addition to the 50% of the population with a chronic condition, and the four million people with heart disease.
But it is mental health that is expected to suffer most, with 84% of young people worried about climate change and 75% finding the future frightening.
That is something GP and Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) Executive Director Dr Kate Wylie knows all too well.
‘I work in suburban Adelaide, and I hear from young people talking about this all the time – they’re scared, it’s impacting their mental health, some even don’t want to have kids,’ she told newsGP.
‘As GPs, wouldn’t ignore chest pain, so why would we ignore this.’
‘We want change, we want action, and we need it to happen now.’
The new ‘Smoke Kills’ advertising campaign. (Image: Comms Declare)
In response, the report is now calling on Governments to:
- commit to a phase out of coal, oil and gas
- introduce national restrictions on fossil fuel advertising and sponsorships
- secure federally mandated and standardised ‘climate warning’ labels on advertisements for carbon intensive products.
More specifically, it wants to see the banning of all new fossil fuel projects and accelerated investment in renewable, single-use and non-recyclable plastics, and on native forest logging,
It is also demanding that healthcare professionals be better prepared and educated about climate change’s health impacts.
Last month, it was revealed that Australia has a global carbon footprint which far exceeds its economic size and population.
Australia now has one of the world’s highest per capita emissions for all greenhouse gases, double that of China, and nine times bigger than India, and was the world’s third largest fossil fuel exporter in 2021, behind only Russia and the United States.
Dr Wylie is calling on her GPs colleagues to read the report, saying medical professionals play a key role in advocating for their patients.
‘As health professionals it’s our role to fearlessly and loudly advocate for the health of all Australians,’ she said.
‘Just like we called out the health harms of smoking, alcohol, and junk food, even guns, we are now ringing the alarm for fossil fuels.
‘If we don’t act on this as a public health priority, simply put, more people are going to die or experience significant illness linked to fossil fuels.’
The report’s release comes amid RACGP calls for
action on climate change, backing a
duty of care Bill to address the health impacts for future generations.
On behalf of Australia’s doctors, the RACGP has also advocated for health system emissions to be measured and for models of care which reduce waste to be explored.
Earlier this month, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Climate and Environmental Medicine, Dr Catherine Pendrey was also named as a member of a
new Climate and Health Expert Advisory Group (CHEAG).
Assistant Health and Aged Care Minister Ged Kearney officially launched the report and acknowledged the impact of climate change.
‘From extreme heat to more frequent bushfires, climate change is forever changing our environment and how we live. Australia needs a health system that is prepared for these challenges,’ she said.
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