News from the Secretary, June 2005
Greenhouse Emissions and Health
All doctors now accept that climate change will have serious consequences for human heath. The Committees of DEA spend a considerable proportion of their time educating the profession and governments on this issue. It is depressing for all of us to realise that greenhouse emissions continue to rise. Furthermore if we look at the data from those countries making a major effort to reduce emissions and having a greater contribution from alternative energy, their emissions are nevertheless increasing. Emissions in the European Union are increasing by about 1.4 % per annum. Emissions are also increasing in the UK.
It doesn’t require Einstein to work out the nature of the problem. All developed countries aspire to an economic growth of 3% p.a. for this is required for employment and the functioning of the present economic system. This results in each economy doubling in 23 years and quadrupling in 43 years. Energy consumption parallels this growth, not absolutely because efficiency improves somewhat, that is, we can produce more with slightly less energy as time goes by. Thus in 43 years’ time we will need to have 40-50% of our energy production from renewable, non-fossil fuel sources to keep greenhouse emissions at their present levels. With present technology this is not possible.
Some of those in government recognise this dilemma. We have given evidence at Senate Committees of the Federal Parliament. Members shuffle their feet and look at their notes. Their response is one of embarrassment as if we had raised the subject of death or sexually transmitted disease! The whole basis of parliamentary ethos, free markets, free trade, tourism, economic expansion etc is questioned by our evidence. Recognising the issue, the equivalent of medical diagnosis, at least offers the possibility of treatment—when we can think of one!
Climate change is an issue that extends into every aspect of human endeavour. We cannot compartmentalise the health aspects for they are linked to economics, the functioning of liberal democracy and the right to live (and die) as we wish.
Environmental Education Research Grant.
In the May newsletter we announced that DEA had been awarded a grant to prepare posters with health messages that relate to the environment. These posters will be placed in Doctors’ waiting rooms. Over the past few years, many members have asked what they can do to participate in DEA activities and we will soon be recruiting members to help. This project will be successful only if members assist. The award of this Environmental Education Grant is very important for it establishes a track record that will facilitate success when we apply for other grants. Ultimately we hope that this project will be funded for the wider distribution of educational material.
The “Working Week”
What are the tasks we accomplish on behalf of members? There is a steady production of articles and educational material to magazines and journals. We continue to see Ministers, Members and Senators and brief them on the topics of the policies you will find on our web page. We work on the administrative aspects of funding, for example we are nearly through a two year process of applying for tax deductibility, which, if we are successful, will enable us to apply for grants from Foundations. We work to increase our membership for this strengthens our voice, and we respond to issues brought to us by members. In June the issue of the expansion of the Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria was raised by a DEA member. If this development goes ahead, it will be deleterious to the control of greenhouse emissions by Victoria for it uses brown coal. When we decide to act on an issue we write to the appropriate departments emphasising the health aspects and we ask for meetings. We have now had a meeting with the appropriate people in the Victorian government and will continue to work on this issue. The members of our Committee cannot be aware of all issues around the country in which they might involve themselves and you as members need to raise these to see if we can help. Finally, we attempt to keep the web page interesting with new articles and we hope that members will turn to www.dea.org.au regularly and will also send material for the members’ and student sections.