Health, medical groups say more action needed to mitigate health risks of climate change

More than 50 health and medical groups are calling for drastic action to prevent a ‘health catastrophe’, but the government won’t change its plan.

National and international health groups have called on the Australian government to deliver more ambitious climate action and a stronger 2030 target, saying more needs to be done to prevent a “catastrophic” health event that could have worldwide repercussions.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor on Tuesday released a plan to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions to a net zero level by 2050 by using new technologies.

In addition, updated modelling suggests Australia is on track to reduce emissions by up to 35 per cent by 2030, up on the 26-28 per cent projection made in 2015.

But in a letter to Mr Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt, 52 health and medical groups are calling for the government to legislate a 75 per cent reduction by 2030 in order to reach net zero by 2035.

Both Mr Morrison and Mr Taylor have repeatedly ruled out setting a more ambitious 2030 target.

The call comes as last week’s MJA-Lancet Countdown report issued a “serious health warning” for Australians from heat, bushfires, air pollution and more and emphasised the disproportionate health burden borne by Indigenous Australians.

The health effects of ‘catastrophic’ climate events, like the 2020 bushfires (pictured), will be widespread unless more action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Picture: AAP Image/Erik Anderson

Climate and Health Alliance executive director Fiona Armstrong said the Australian government’s lack of urgent action was “wrong” and did not do enough to address the health emergency brought about by climate change.

“Australia’s action to address the health impacts of climate change has been described as ‘catastrophic for human health’,” she said.

“It is wrong and unnecessary to endanger Australian lives in this way.”

Health Minister Greg Hunt said he and his department had been ‘deeply’ involved in developing the national plan. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

In response, Mr Hunt said he and his department had been “deeply engaged” in developing the government’s plan to reduce emissions.

“In my view, it is a very important consideration and it was well considered, and I, and the Department of Health, was deeply engaged,” Mr Hunt said.

“In my personal view, this is a very significant moment in Australia … It builds on what we did in Paris.

“We’re going to clearly meet and significantly beat our 2030 targets with the revised projections. And now we’ve committed to net zero and we were cautious in doing that … but we were able to see that pathway (that would not damage jobs or drive up electricity prices).

“I think it’s good for health. I think it protects jobs.”

Health groups warn of respiratory consequences if more drastic action is not taken. Picture: Christian Gilles

But there is pressure on the government to look beyond jobs and industry and recognise the impact Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions have on a wider scale.

Liz Hanna from the World Federation of Public Health Associations said the Australian government had a duty to protect “all global citizens” from the worsening impacts of climate change.

“As the world’s third largest exporter of fossil fuels, Australia is literally digging up the stuff that harms human health across the world,” Dr Hanna said.

The annual United Nations Emissions Gap report released overnight warned that current commitments would not be enough to keep warming between 1.5 and 2C above pre-industrial levels.