Back
Medical, Health & Aged Care
Healthy Futures

MEDIA RELEASE: Healthy Futures exposes the urgent threat of methane emissions to Australian health in a new report

Healthy Futures

20th November, 2024

 

Healthy Futures, a leading health and climate advocacy organisation committed to addressing the health impacts of climate change, will release a groundbreaking report next Tuesday the 26th of November - "Toxic air, urgent action: Unveiling a methane health crisis." The report details the growing threat climate change poses to Australians' health and the direct link between methane and deadly air pollution known as ground ozone – a dense invisible smog that blankets the land and causes life threatening health conditions. 

 

The report reveals the alarming consequences of methane emissions on public health, particularly from the coal and gas industry. It calls for the urgent need for the Australian government to take decisive action to curb methane emissions to protect health. 

 

“Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to climate change. It also happens to be short-lived in the atmosphere, meaning if we dramatically reduce methane emissions now, its impact will diminish relatively quickly. This would have a substantial effect slowing down climate change and potentially allow us to stay below the 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit set by the Paris Agreement, a threshold that we desperately need to attempt to stay under,” said Dr John Van Der Kallen, Rheumatologist

 

The report outlines how methane, because of its contribution to catastrophic climate change and because of its role in forming ground ozone pollution (smog), is:

  • Increasing the frequency and severity of heat-related illnesses, including deaths 

  • Increasing the respiratory exacerbation and development of asthma and bronchitis 

  • Causing avoidable deaths attributable to air pollution 

  • Leading to food insecurity because of damaging ground ozone impacts on crops 

  • Exacerbating severe mental health challenges from the escalating impacts of climate change, including increased anxiety and ecological grief. 

“Methane pollution is toxic. By exacerbating climate change, methane is causing heat stress, harm from extreme weather, increased allergic and infectious diseases and mental health impacts. Reducing methane emissions will protect the health of Australians and mitigate against the worst impacts of climate change,” said Dr Kim Loo, Western Sydney GP. 

The report calls for immediate action to reduce methane emissions, specifically from fossil fuel operations - REGISTER HERE to attend the launch event next Tuesday the 26th of November.  

Media enquiries: Bronwyn McDonald | Healthy Futures | 0408 477 403 | bronwyn.mcdonald@healthyfutures.net.au

 

Available for Interview: 

  • Dr Kim Loo, RACGP representative 

  • Dr John Van Der Kallen, Rheumatologist, DEA member, and previous DEA Chair

  • Dr Michael Bonning

  • Nurse Peggy Smith, NSWNMA 

  • Hannah Beaton, UNSW Methane Researcher

- END -


Key Facts:

 

Report Summary

At Healthy Futures, we recognise the urgent need to address the health impacts of fossil methane emissions, particularly from coal and gas production. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, trapping over 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide in a 20-year timeframe. Methane accelerates climate change and contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, a harmful air pollutant. Our report highlights the multifaceted health risks of methane emissions and calls for immediate action to mitigate these threats.

Key Findings

Methane & Climate Change: The impacts of climate change, driven by methane emissions, create a public health emergency. Heat-related illnesses, food insecurity, forced migration, and the spread of infectious diseases are intensifying. Additionally, mental health challenges such as anxiety and ecological grief are becoming more prevalent, particularly among those facing the brunt of climate change.

Air Pollution & Public Health: Methane is a precursor to ground-level ozone (smog), exacerbating respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis and heart disease. Ground ozone exposure also impacts crop yields, threatening global food security by reducing the production of staple grains like wheat, rice and soy. The health and economic consequences of worsening air quality are already tangible for Australians.

Urgent Action

At Healthy Futures, we are calling for urgent methane mitigation measures as a critical lever to protect public health and the environment. Reducing methane emissions, specifically from fossil fuel production, offers immediate benefits by slowing the pace of global warming and reducing harmful air pollutants. According to the International Energy Agency, a 75% reduction in fossil methane emissions by 2030 is achievable and essential.

The health benefits of methane abatement are immediate and profound. By reducing methane emissions, we can prevent:

  • Nearly one million premature deaths globally by 2050.

  • Millions of asthma-related hospital visits and emergency admissions.

  • Significant losses in crop yields, preventing hunger and malnutrition.

Moving Forward

We call on stakeholders to prioritise advocating for methane reduction. We want the federal and state governments to put strong regulatory frameworks in place for methane monitoring, reporting, and abatement, yielding immediate health improvements and long-term climate stability. Together, we can tackle methane emissions and safeguard public health.

We look forward to your continued engagement and action as we release the Healthy Futures Report. Your leadership and commitment ensure a healthier, more sustainable future for all.


Contact details:

Bronwyn McDonald - 0408 477 403 - bronwyn.mcdonald@healthyfutures.net.au