OraTaiao calls for healthier government response to climate advice
Christchurch, 9 June 2021 -- Responding to today’s release of the Climate Change Commission’s advice to the government on New Zealand’s climate ambitions, OraTaiao called on Minister for Climate Change Hon. James Shaw to safeguard the health of Aotearoa and step up to our fair share when the world meets in Glasgow this November to keep human-adaptable 1.5 degrees warming within reach.
Read moreOraTaiao appeals to Government: plate up for climate change and health
OraTaiao underwhelmed by the Budget’s support for climate or health
Simply going by the 2021 Budget, one wouldn’t know our government has declared a climate emergency; rather it was another disappointment in a long string of underwhelming Budgets, said Dr Dermot Coffey, Co-convenor, OraTaiao: NZ Climate and Health Council.
Please read OraTaiao's response to the 2021 Budget.
Auckland Regional Land Transport Plan
OraTaiao submission, 2 May 2021
"While we support the intent of the draft advice, much more ambitious targets for active and public transport increases, and modeshare shifts from private motor vehicles need to be included. There has not been enough consideration of the health and health equity gains that can be made by emission reducing policies and Te Tiriti o Waitangi has not been centralised."
Read full submission here.
Climate Change Commission's first package of advice to the Government "Climate action for Aotearoa"
OraTaiao submission, 26 March 2021
We cannot support the majority of the Commission's recommendations as they do not take into account the health and health equity gains that can be made by emission reducing policies, and the advice does not account for the harm climate change will cause to health and healthy equity.
Read full submission here.
Stuff: Climate change: Calls for public health expert to be appointed to commission
Article about OraTaiao and other health professional organisations asking for a public health expert to be appointed to the Climate Change Commission. Read here.
Letter to Climate Change Minister March 2021
Twelve health professional organisations have written to Climate Change Minister James Shaw asking for public health representation on the Climate Change Commission.
Put health at the heart of Aotearoa's climate response
Make a submission to the Climate Change Commission!
The Climate Change Commission is consulting on its first package of advice to the Government which will help shape Aotearoa’s climate crisis response. In their current form the Commission’s draft recommendations ignore the important health and equity gains that could be made from the right kind of climate action. They also do not sufficiently recognise te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Read moreCall for abstracts - Sustainable Health and Climate Health Aotearoa Conference 2021
The Sustainable Healthcare and Climate Health Aotearoa Conference invites experts, researchers, up-and-coming leaders and sustainability champions to submit abstracts for presentation (in person or virtually) at our annual conference in Wellington on 22–23 June 2021. The theme is 'Re-thinking Sustainable Health in Aotearoa'. For more information see here.
Stuff: Fix public transport to stop fossil fuel pollution deaths, climate expert says
Article on new air pollution study showing deaths from burning fossil fuels with comments by OraTaiao Co-convenor, Dr Dermot Coffey, including recommending a “rapidly decarbonising society”. Read here.