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.

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.

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.

Promote the health benefits of climate action and the work of OraTaiao at your workplace by putting up a flyer in your tea room and on notice boards. Just download and print out the flyers below. Choose either A4 size or go for the smaller A5 size. 

• OraTaiao promotional flyer A4 size (PDF) - print out and pin up!
• OraTaiao promotional flyer A5 size (PDF) - print this out on standard A4 paper and cut in half to make A5 size.

Article by Dr Dermot Coffey. NZMJ Digest Issue 99. Read here (PDF).

The following briefing was sent to Ministers and Associate Ministers with portfolios in health, housing, transport, energy, building & construction, environment, agriculture, and climate change. Tackling climate change requires an all of government response.

• Briefing to Incoming Ministers - December 2020

MEDIA STATEMENT, 3 December 2020

Evidence from the latest Lancet Countdown report show that climate change induced shocks such as wildfires and heat waves are claiming lives now and unless urgent action is taken then health impacts will worsen, so it is timely our government has just declared a climate emergency, said Dr Dermot Coffey, Co-convenor, OraTaiao: NZ Climate and Health Council.

People don't need educating on cycleways, just do it. Dr Dermot Coffey. Stuff news, 10 November 2020.

We need to focus on the systemic and structural barriers to climate change actions, and to make use of health expertise in our climate change response. Read here.

Viewpoint by Michael Brenndorfer. Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, Vol 26, No 9, October 2020. Read here (PDF).

MEDIA STATEMENT, 9 October 2020

Following the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) announcement that it will commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2040, NZ health professionals are asking the NZ Government to require emissions reductions in our health sector in Aotearoa NZ.

Article by Dr Dermot Coffey. New Zealand Doctor, 7 October 2020. Read here. 

Leaders need to lead on climate action. Rod Oram. Newsroom, 4 October 2020.

OraTaiao's scorecard rating political parties' policies on climate change & health is showcased in this comment piece by journalist Rod Oram. See here.

Article on New Zealand's General Election 2020 and OraTaiao's scorecard rating political parties' policies on climate change & health. Includes comments by Dr Dermot Coffey. Read here.

MEDIA RELEASE, 28 September 2020

Health professionals have expressed surprise at the silence around this century’s biggest population health threat in the 2020 general election.

“We have found that even some of our major parties have either no plans on what to do about climate change or have ones which are actively harmful. Having no good climate policy today is a bit like having no public health policy during a pandemic,” said Dr Dermot Coffey, Co-convenor of OraTaiao: NZ Climate & Health Council, on releasing an election scorecard today. 

Scorecard and report by OraTaiao: NZ Climate & Health Council rating political parties' policies on climate change and health for NZ General Election 2020. See here (PDF).

OraTaiao submission, 21 June 2020

We are delighted to announce this webinar series, focused on sustainable healthcare and climate health. Presenting the latest information, the 30-min programmes will air fortnightly on Tuesdays at 4pm, from June to October 2020. 

Submission guide for the Accessible Streets package of rule changes

There are significant co-benefits for health, climate and equitable access from active transport (biking, walking, wheelchair use, scooting, skating). The Government is seeking public feedback on its “accessible streets” package of rules designed to encourage walking, biking, and support liveable and vibrant towns and cities. However, many of the proposed changes will erode the rights of pedestrians and people with disabilities on the footpath while having minimal impact on the convenience of people in cars. It is time the government addressed providing safe space for cyclists and other “third speed” transport like e-scooters, while protecting the rights and safety of footpath users. This can be achieved by creating safe space for “third speed” transport by reducing vehicle speed limits on roads, bike friendly traffic calming infrastructure and high quality cycle path infrastructure. Deadline for submissions is 5pm Wednesday 20 May.