The RACGP has spoken out about the widespread impacts of climate change on health at a public hearing for Independent ACT Senator David Pocock’s new duty of care bill.
The proposed bill would require the Australian Government to consider the wellbeing of young people and future generations when making decisions that support or fund projects that could significantly increase greenhouse emissions.
RACGP Specific Interests Climate and Environmental Medicine Chair, Dr Catherine Pendrey, told a public hearing for the bill on Monday that climate change was a global public health emergency.
“As a GP, safeguarding child health is always at the centre of what I do. But it’s not every day that I get to speak at a Senate Inquiry at 38 weeks pregnant, about our duty of care to safeguard the future for children,” Dr Pendry said.
“We must address climate change to protect child health – climate change is the greatest threat to health we face today. However, in Australia and globally, new fossil fuel projects are still being developed that will result in substantial increases to greenhouse gas emissions and drive climate change.
“We have already experienced 1.4°C of warming in Australia and the latest UN Emissions Gap Report shows countries’ commitments are only enough to limit warming to 2.5-2.9°C this century, if they are fully implemented.”
The RACGP detailed its support for the bill in a submission last year and has now called on Parliamentarians to support the proposal, noting that the “health risks of climate change were downright dangerous.
“We have had yet another summer of dangerous heatwaves, floods, bushfires, and storms, and we know that extreme weather causes injuries and deaths, as well as long-term physical health problems and mental trauma,” Dr Pendry said.
“Children and young people are especially vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. It’s time to act.”
The college has also appointed a new CEO this week, Georgina van de Water, who will officially commence in the role in April, with outgoing CEO, Adjunct Associate Professor David Hillis, continuing to act in an interim capacity until then.
Before joining the RACGP as chief general practice training officer, Ms van de Water served as CEO for GP Synergy, the provider of the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program for specialist general practitioners in NSW and the ACT.
Prior to this, she was chief operating officer at regional training provider and primary health network Went West. She has also held senior roles both nationally and internationally in the private and not-for-profit sector.
RACGP Board Chair Dr Lara Roeske said Ms van de Water was unanimously selected by the board as the RACGP’s next CEO after a robust executive search and selection process.