Doctors to hold major climate and health forum as Australia weighs new emissions targets
Doctors for the Environment Australia
As the government prepares to make major decisions on Australia’s climate targets and nature policies, Doctors for the Environment Australia, the leading voice on climate and health, is holding a timely in-person and online public forum.
This high-level event will bring together influential local and international speakers from fields such as health, politics, advocacy, academia, science, and First Nations voices to address worsening climate change; deep dive into how current policies are affecting our health and the environment on which we depend for survival; and explore practical solutions for how we can save lives and protect our communities.
DEA’s Executive Director Dr Kate Wylie says:
“This will be a gathering of fearless leaders from various disciplines, who want to protect the health of everyone alive today, in Australia and across the world.
“We want to tell the government that a safe climate and environment are urgent public health priorities that it must tackle with urgency.
“Accelerating climate change- the biggest threat to health that humanity has ever faced- will mean more people will die, more people will experience significant physical and mental illness, and our environment on which we depend for our very survival will continue to deteriorate.
“Strong and decisive action from our leaders, especially on phasing out fossil fuels, is the only way to make sure that the people and places we love thrive.”
When:
Sept 4th - 6th
Where:
Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country / Parliament House, Canberra
Location Day 1: Parliament House Theatrette
Day 2 and 3: Old Parliament House
The forum will feature thought-provoking keynotes, evidence-based discussions, and practical workshops to create urgent change - from the clinic to the corridors of power.
Online link
For Thursday 4 September, visit HERE
Two audience motions will be tabled on Thursday, 4 Sep
11:10 am- Motion in support of strong and urgent emissions targets to minimise the health harms to people and planet
4:00 pm- Motion to quit fossil fuels to protect public health
Visuals
Visit HERE for speaker shots, as well as photos and videos that will be uploaded over the three days.
To find out more, including the program, visit HERE
Topics at the forum
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energy policy and health inequity
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the climate and health costs of war
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how air pollution impacts our health across our lifespan
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how we can pay for the health of our planet
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the power of our financial choices to reduce the power of the fossil fuel industry
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reducing plastic waste
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climate litigation
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supporting health professionals to ‘prescribe’ for planetary health
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Pacific communities: the lived experience of our changing climate
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how Fiji is preparing its health systems for climate change
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First Nations experience of climate change
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how the SA algal bloom is bringing home the importance of climate action to protect biodiversity
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healthy planet, healthy people: why caring for nature is caring for ourselves
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preparing Australia’s healthcare for our changing climate
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and more.
Speakers
Social
Dr Cassandra Goldie AO, CEO of ACOSS
Politics
Kate Thwaites (Federal member for Jagajaga), Government’s Special Envoy for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (The Australian Greens)
Dr Monique Ryan (Member for Kooyong)
Dr Sophie Scamps (Member for Mackellar)
Allegra Spender (Member for Wentworth)
David Pocock (Senator for the ACT)
International
Dr Jemesa Tudravu (Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services, Fiji)
Dr Berlin Kafoa (Director, Public Health Division at The Pacific Community, based in Noumea)
Stephanie Kelton (US economist, proponent of Modern Monetary Theory and previous advisor to Bernie Sanders)
Dr Si Thu Win Tin, Deputy Director of the Public Health Division at the Pacific Community (SPC)
Health
Dr Richard Brennan AO (WHO Regional Emergency Director)
Laureate Professor Nick Talley AC (Board chair Doctors for the Environment)
Dr Kate Wylie (ED Doctors for the Environment)
Dr Kimberley Humphrey (SA Health Climate Change lead, health care representative on the WHO's Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), DEA board member)
Assoc Prof Chris Leung (Clinician Educator Researcher Advocator, DEA deputy chair)
Dr Kim Loo (Australian Medical Association's 2025 Women in Medical Leadership Award, DEA board member) · Assoc Prof Forbes McGain (Associate Dean of Sustainable Healthcare at the University of Melbourne) ·
Dr Terry Slevin (PHAA) · Dr Kerri Aust (AMA ACT President) Dr Angie Bone (Monash Sustainable Development Institute)
Dr Cindy Needham (Deakin University)
Dr Carolyn Orr (Neurologist, Air Pollution expert, DEA board secretary)
Professor Steve Robson (Clinician, surgeon, researcher, author, and health policy leader)
Dr Helen Redmond (Chair DEA Healthy Investment Group, Rehabilitation Medicine Specialist)
Dr Mike Forrester (Sustainability Researcher Deakin University)
Dr Shaun Watson (Neurologist, DEA board member)
Assoc Prof Ken Winkel (Melbourne School of Population and Global Health)
Assoc Prof Aditya Vyas (Public Health Physician and Co-Chair CAPHIA Climate and Public Health Education Network)
Dr Kristine Barnden (Obstetrician)
Dr Bronwyn Gresham (Clinical Psychologist and CEO with Psychology for a Safe Climate)
First Nations
Tina King Brown (Ngunnawal Elder)
Arabella Douglas (Minyungbal Bundjalung woman, Currie Country Social Change)
Francis Nona (Torres Strait Island leader, Lecturer of Indigenous Strategy, Carumba Institute)
Legal
Jess Border (Managing Lawyer, Environment Defenders Office (EDO))
Ruby Hamilton (Senior Solicitor, EDO)
Kate Evans (Solicitor in the WA Practice at EDO)
Economics/Finance
Stephanie Kelton (US economist, proponent of Modern Monetary Theory and previous advisor to Bernie Sanders)
Richard Denniss (The Australia Institute)
Brett Morgan (Market Forces)
Leigh Ewbank (Solutions for Climate Australia)
Media Contact
Carmela Ferraro on 0410 703 074
–ENDS–
About us:
Doctors for the Environment Australia is the leading medical voice on health and climate.
We work with communities and health professionals to respond to the health effects of climate change through practical support, education, and by encouraging strong government action to reduce pollution.
We protect the health of families, workplaces, and communities — now and into the future.