Our Vision

About Doctors for the Environment Australia

Doctors for the Environment Australia is a voluntary organisation of medical doctors in all states and territories.  We work to address the diseases – local, national and global – caused by damage to the earth’s environment.   For example, climate change will bring to Australia an increased burden of heat stroke, injury from fire and storm, infectious diseases and social disruption and mental illness, whilst in the developing world it will bring famine and water shortage.

The medical profession has a proud record of service to the community.  This record not only includes personal clinical care, but also involvement in global issues that threaten the future of humanity.   We aim to use our scientific and medical skills to educate governments and industry, the public and our colleagues by developing educational materials such as Policies and Posters and by direct contact, in the endeavour to highlight the medical importance of our natural environment. To our patients we try to provide a role model in the care of the environment for this is part of a preventative health ethos.

Objects

The objects of the Association shall be:

• Conservation and restoration of the natural environment because of its relationship to and impact on human health.
• Sustainable development which meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• Education of doctors and the public on the health effects of environmental degradation locally and worldwide using the best available scientific evidence and the precautionary principle.
• All appropriate things incidental to such objects.

Core Values

These are our core beliefs and principles and it is from these our organisation grows to achieve our vision.

DEA values:

• The health of natural ecosystems as the basis for human health and wellbeing.
• Activities that foster stewardship for our natural environment
• Scientific evidence as the basis for environmental protection, and the precautionary approach.

DEA respects:

• The dedication, knowledge and contribution of our members and a nurturing, mutually supportive organisational environment to foster these.
• Professional and scientific integrity in guiding evidence-based educational and advocacy activities.
• Australia’s indigenous peoples and their long history of sustainable stewardship of country.

Vision

Healthy planet, healthy people.

We understand that human health and wellbeing are absolutely dependent upon a rich, biodiverse planet where healthy ecosystems sustain life in balance.  Humans need a future with clean air and water, healthy soils producing nutritious food, a stable climate, and a complex, diverse and interconnected humanity whose needs are met in a sustainable way.