Health and medical professional representatives, comprised of 22 groups in Australia, have expressed their health concerns. They issued a combined call to action on a public health emergency that is a result of smoke emanating from the New South Wales disastrous bush fire season. Communities in Sydney and NSW have been subject to toxins from air pollution that is eleven times more than the stipulated leves.
In a joint statement, the group has called for political leadership while recapping a call for state policy to fight the health effects of climate change. The Royal Australasian Physicians College signed the report. Dr Kate Charlesworth, the institute’s associate, said climate-linked health effects are impacting the most vulnerable in the community. They include individuals with pre-existing diseases, children and babies. Air pollution, she said, has no safe levels.
A rapid shift from fossil fuels to cleaner, safer and healthier forms of energy is the only way to protect health. The 22 groups comprised the Public Health Association of Australia, Australasian College of Emergency Medicine, Lung Foundation Australia, Australian College of Nursing and Australian Association of Social Workers.
The statement requires the NSW and Federal gov’t must prioritize action to help cut the risks to people’s health rising from unsafe air pollution. Health and Climate Alliance exec, Fiona Armstrong, said it’s a public health emergency. Armstrong added that climate change would only get worse and that bush fire smoke is projected to rise.
Dr Lai Heng Foong who serves as an associate at the Doctor’s for the Environment Australia also emphasized on the issue. Lai said pollution from this smoke remains harmful to individuals, in both the short and long-term. Majority of the organizations that assented to the statement are similarly pushing for Australia to retort to the health effects of climate change. Lung Foundation Australia CEO, Mark Brooke, stated a state policy was required. Air quality and climate change, Brooke said, substantially contribute to poor health of the human lungs. Besides, there’s increased disability and death, economic and health burden.
To thwart the worst pollution of air from fire smoke, the administration needs to reduce fuel burns. Yet, most importantly, it needs to set resilient and improved standards for healthy air quality. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) stated the climate change was a health emergency and the impacts on patients and communities currently and in the future. The AMA requested the Morrison government to help Australia retreat from fossil fuels and to sponsor the health paybacks of cutting greenhouse gas releases.
