Emissions Trading Reform
OraTaiao submission, 17 January 2020
It is encouraging to see a cap on emissions units, a sinking lid mechanism and the phasing out of industrial allocation of free units incorporated into the draft Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Reform) Amendment Bill.
"We remain concerned however about the ongoing delay in integration of agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme, the slow phase down of free units to industry and the lack of a mechanism to recycle revenue from the sale of New Zealand Units to support a low carbon transition for those most likely to be impacted by the changes - low income, Māori and Pacific households."
Read full submission here (PDF). This submission is endorsed by the New Zealand Medical Association, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa / New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), the Public Health Association of New Zealand, and the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine.
Newly appointed climate change commission a crucial step with major expertise gap
The newly appointed climate change commission is an important step towards New Zealand being able to put the necessary policies in place to protect our health and wellbeing from climate change, but it lacks the full expertise to bring about the transformative change that New Zealand needs to meet its climate change commitments to ensure our safety and well-being into the future, according to Dr Alexandra Macmillan, Co-convenor, OraTaiao: NZ Climate and Health Council.
Read more >Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill
OraTaiao submission, 11 December 2019
"The significance of climate disruption for the mental health and well-being of those alive today and for future generations simply cannot be ignored. A focus on the climate crisis thus needs to be highlighted in legislation defining the Commission’s role."
Read full submission here.
Should health professionals participate in civil disobedience in response to the climate change health emergency?
Article in The Lancet by OraTaiao members Dr Hayley Bennet, Dr Alexandra Macmillan, Dr Rhys Jones, and Dr Alison Blaiklock with Prof John Mcmillan. In this article a framework is applied to guide decision making by considering whether climate change justifies civil disobedience by health professionals as part of a duty of care.
Read here.
Climate medicine: our changing climate and health inequity in New Zealand
Article in the New Zealand Medical Students Journal by exec board member Cameron Toogood on how the impacts of climate change will both exacerbate current inequities of health and generate new ones, and the need for region specific information.
Read here.
Sustainable Healthcare Forum Aotearoa and Climate Change & Health Conference 2020
Save the date! The next Sustainable Healthcare Forum Aotearoa, and a new Climate Change & Health Conference, will be held in Wellington, New Zealand, from 16-17 June 2020. We are proud to announce the keynote speaker will be Dr David Pencheon, former Director of the NHS Sustainable Development Unit. Announcements and further details about registration will follow.
Read more >College of GPs signs joint call for action on climate change and health
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practioners has made a formal commitment to confront the health effects of climate change and has signed the 'Health Professionals Joint Call for Action on Climate Change and Health'.
Read more >Stuff.co.nz: Wildfires, disease and food loss predicted for world's climate future - research
Article on findings from the 2019 report - Lancet Countdown on climate change and health with comments from Dr Alexandra Macmillan, OraTaiao Co-convenor.
See here.
Farm to fork - Can changing your eating habits save the planet?
An article in Consumer magazine on the EAT-Lancet guidelines for a healthy and sustainable diet, with an NZ focus. Includes quotes from OraTaiao Co-convenor Dr Alexandra Macmillan.
Read here.
Healthy Food and Drink Guidance survey
OraTaiao submission to Ministry of Health, 8 November 2019
"Healthy eating, including increased intake of plant-based foods and less consumption of red meat and animal fat (particularly highly processed animal products), would both help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lead to significant improvements in health. This also aligns with the targets for New Zealand to have net zero carbon emissions and reduced methane emissions by 2050."
Read full submission here (PDF).