Rising Tide’s Canberra Wave event: Doctors warn we need to quit coal for health
What:
In one of the final sitting days of 2024, Doctors for the Environment Australia's Executive Director and GP, Dr Kate Wylie, will be speaking at Rising Tide’s The Canberra Wave against coal and gas.
Other speakers include Independent Senator David Pocock and Bishop Philip Huggins.
When:
Wednesday 27 November 2024, 12-2pm
Where:
Parliament House Lawns, Canberra
Quotes attributable to DEA’s Executive Director and GP Dr Kate Wylie
"Rising global temperatures in Australia and around the world are endangering lives.
With summer just days away, as doctors we’re bracing ourselves for a potential public health crisis.
Warming temperatures driven largely by coal, gas, and oil- whether they are burned in our own country or overseas- amplify the risks of extreme hot days and heatwaves, bushfires and bushfire smoke, and thunderstorms and flash flooding.
Fossil fuels also pollute the air we breathe; harm biodiversity that supports all life including ours; and produce plastic waste, which is now so ubiquitous it’s in the food we eat, the water we drink, and in our bodies.
Despite the extraordinary public health emergency in which we find ourselves, both major parties have policies that support the expansion of this toxic industry. Labor is ramping up gas and coal, while the Coalition also wants to introduce nuclear power if it gets in.
As doctors, we have a duty of care to speak out when public health is threatened.
We call on our elected representatives to do the right thing: quit fossil fuels to protect health, and accelerate the necessary shift to clean power."
Links
Rising Tide Canberra Wave event
Fossil Fuels are a Health Hazard report
About us:
Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) is an independent, self-funded,
non-government organisation of medical doctors and students in all Australian
states and territories.
Our members work across all specialties in community, hospital, and private
practice, including Aboriginal community-controlled health services.
DEA’s work is focused on environmental protection and restoration to promote human health and social
stability, and clean energy to reduce the impacts of fossil fuel industries on
human health.
Contact details:
Communications and Media Lead, Carmela Ferraro: 0410 703 074 / carmela.ferraro@dea.org.au