The recent letter to the editor in MJA by Doctors for the Environment Australia's Dr Ben Dunne and Dr Nikki Burdett explains why planetary care is good cancer care.
They stress that the call to ban new fossil fuel projects in Australia is urgent for protecting public health, especially regarding cancer risks.
Fossil fuels contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, increase air pollution (especially PM2.5), and are linked to various cancers, including lung cancer. Pollution from these projects contains carcinogens like benzene, associated with leukemia and other malignancies.
Recent project approvals, such as in the Beetaloo Basin, echo the concerns seen in the U.S. "cancer alley," risking the creation of similar health hazards in Australia.
Physicians must advocate for banning these projects to safeguard public health, similar to their stance against smoking.