January 5, 2022 - Our western democracies can no longer deliver consensus and action on issues that threaten humanity such as climate change, writes Dr David Shearman. Governments are unwilling to accept that many ...
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.
MJAInsight+: COP26 opportunities missed for Australian health care
January 5, 2022 - AT the UN climate change conference (COP26) in Glasgow, over 50 countries participated in the COP26 Health Programme and committed to strengthen the climate resilience and sustainability of their health systems. Yet while health ...
iDEA 2021- it’s a wrap!
November 12, 2021 - iDEA2021: Planet Health and Hope was an exciting, motivating conference, held online on 16 to 17 October 2021. This was DEAs annual conference, and this year it marked the 20th ...
COP26 is over. What happens next?
November 12, 2021 - The UN COP26 conference represented the most important climate event of our time. What are the take-aways? Doctors for the Environment Australia Chair Dr John Van Der Kallen says: It ...
Vales Point Power Station: oppose the granting of a licence exemption.
November 9, 2021 - Doctors for the Environment Australia are concerned by the extremely generous license conditions allowing NSW power stations to pollute at much higher levels than similar facilities overseas Drs Ben Ewald ...
Germanwatch: Australia 58th on the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)
November 8, 2021 - Australia slipped four places to 58th in this year’s CCPI, remaining behind many developed economies. Very low ratings were given for its performance in every category. DEA is not surprised that Australia’s rating on climate action has slipped and ...
MJA Insight+: COVID-19 is urgent, climate is important
October 29, 2021 - Drs Kate Charlesworth and Omar Khorshid state scientific reports are becoming increasingly blunt: decarbonise urgently or face catastrophic climate breakdown. The health sector has a lot of work to do. ...
Joint statement: Zero is good. Now we need to slash emissions in the most important decade of our lives
October 27, 2021 - We welcome the Morrison Government’s commitment to a target of net zero greenhouse gas pollution and now, to achieve this target, we expect the government to drive the slashing of ...
Report: How Climate Change Affects Mental Health In Australia
October 11, 2021 - – Climate change is increasingly driving more severe and frequent extreme weather events such as extreme heat, bushfires, storms and floods which have serious and wide-reaching impacts on the mental health of ...
Media release: NSW emissions cut welcome; now it’s time for Canberra to step up
September 29, 2021 - Doctors for the Environment Australia welcomes the NSW government’s commitment to halve emissions by 2030, describing it as a win-win-win for health, the environment and the economy. DEA NSW Chair ...
National Sustainable Healthcare Unit Proposal
September 13, 2021 - Doctors for the Environment Australia supports the development of national Sustainable Healthcare Unit to coordinate environmentally sustainable initiatives in health care and reduce its carbon footprint. It would: standardise and benchmark the measurement of carbon emissions; develop a road map for, ...
Doctors group applauds sensible comments on coal closure
September 13, 2021 - It is of great importance that NSW phases out electricity generation from coal this decade, so we are relieved to hear the NSW Energy and Environment Minister Hon Matt Kean ...
Young People’s Climate Anxiety is Valid; Not Caused By So-Called “Alarmist” Activism
September 2, 2021 - – Recent efforts by two Liberal MPs to link mental health problems in young people to “alarmist” climate activism in an effort to secure extra funding for the school chaplaincy ...
How Climate Change Affects Your Health: The Facts
August 30, 2021 - – We’re proud to launch our new briefing document: How Climate Change Affects Your Health: The Facts.
Make a #NaturePact
August 27, 2021 - DEA is excited to partner with the People and Parks Foundation in this year’s #NaturePact campaign, which runs from 1-30 September. So, why don’t you sign up for September’s #NaturePact as a way to ...
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. ...
Climate Change and Sustainability: Leadership and Action from Australian Doctors
August 16, 2021 - Australia’s healthcare sector is estimated to contribute to 7% of Australia’s total carbon footprint, yet climate change is contributing to life-threatening illnesses and deaths. Many in the healthcare sector are ...
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 ...
DEA joins statement from civil society organisations: Australia must slash climate pollution this decade
August 6, 2021 - August 6th, 2021 The political debate about climate change in Australia is stuck on whether the Federal Government should commit to net zero climate pollution by 2050. This is largely ...
Media release: Doctors slam the Morrison Government’s decision to reject Steggall’s climate bill
July 14, 2021 - Australia’s doctors are dismayed that the Morrison Government has rejected Zali Steggall’s climate change bill, which was tabled today, despite the need to protect public health from the deadly consequences ...