Medical students around Australia this week are saying “Yes” to a price on carbon pollution as part of a national campaign to highlight the urgency of action on climate change.
Doctors for the Environment Australia will be joining with the Australian Conservation Foundation, GetUp, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and the Australian Council of Trade Unions amongst others, in a national week of action supporting a move towards pricing carbon.
The health profession largely recognises climate change as the greatest threat to global health of the coming century, with the World Health Organisation estimating that over 150 000 people already die each year due to the health impacts of climate change, including food and water shortages, extreme weather events and the resurgence of some infectious diseases.
Australia will not be spared the health impacts of climate change, in particular with the resurgence of dengue fever and malaria as well as predicted increases in heat-related illnesses. For instance, during the 2009 heatwave responsible for the tragic Victorian bushfires, there were almost 300 more deaths than usual in the Melbourne area from heat-related illness than would usually occur in that period.
Tasmanian DEA Students Representative James Correy, who is currently studying on a paediatrics rotation at the Mersey Community Hospital said: “National DEA Students Representative Rohan Church said: “A well-designed price on carbon pollution will not only help to reduce our emissions, but will encourage healthy behaviours such as choosing active transport methods and eating fresh locally-grown foods. Reducing our carbon emissions now will reduce health expenditure in the future as well as save millions of lives that will be affected by global warming.”
The Australian Medical Students’ Association, representing the 17,000 medical students around Australia, also has a strong policy on climate change and health, calling on the government to act to reduce Australia’s carbon emissions by at least 25% by 2020.
On Sunday June 5, DEA medical students will be joining rallies in every capital city, including Hobart, and some regional centres along with a range of community organisations including the Australian Conservation Foundation, GetUp! and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.
• Local group supporting national call for investment in renewables
Local community group Climate Action Hobart yesterday (Sunday) hit the streets door-knocking in support of action on climate change, a strong price on pollution and investment in renewable energy.
Thousands of Australians took part in a door-knock effort to get community support for a strong price on pollution and new investment in renewable technologies.
“It’s time for the community to stand up for a clean future for Australia, as negotiations over the price on pollution are happening right now,” Climate Action Hobart spokesperson Hannah Aulby said.
“We want a result that’s good for the community, not one that’s a win for the big polluters”
“We’re calling for the revenue from the carbon price to go straight into building new renewable energy projects, not funding the big businesses that are only going to keep polluting. We’d like to see Andrew Wilkie and all Tasmanian MPs publicly supporting this call.”
Climate Action Hobart are working as part of a national campaign to get good climate outcomes out of the price on pollution negotiations. A National Day of Climate Action will be held on the 5th of June at 11am in Franklin Square, as a show of community support for climate action and a clean future. The rally will also call for Labor MPs and key Independents to support renewable energy.
• Environment Tasmania, GetUp and Climate Action Hobart launched their plan yesterday for local activity during the National Week of Climate Action. The groups will be leafleting, holding stalls, door-knocking, all culminating in a rally on the 5th June.
The rally, to be held in Franklin Square, will form part of the ʻSay Yesʼ is a campaign, launched today by groups representing over 3 million young people, workers, business and the environment that all want Australia to price carbon pollution in 2011.
“We know that a vocal minority of Australians are making themselves heard on this critical debate, and our politicians are being swayed,” Paul Oosting from GetUp said. “Thatʼs why on Sunday weʼll take to the streets and encourage Tasmanians to make themselves heard, and prove that the mainstream view is positive and in favour of action on rising pollution.”
“Australians want to stop rising pollution and move to an economy based on renewable energy sources,”Mr Oosting said. “To do that we must provide industry with the incentive to move beyond the fossil fuels of the past and kick-start a green economy, that will create jobs, unlock investment in clean energy and help ensure a healthy environment for our future.”
Simultaneous rallies will take place in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra.
