AMA ramps up pressure for government to act on climate change

T

he powerful doctors lobby group is set to ramp up pressure on the federal government to take action on climate change.

Australian Medical Association vice president Stephen Parnis says a working group has been established to revamp the group's climate policy before the UN climate change conference in Paris this year.

"We would like Australia's targets and priorities to be informed by AMA policy and influenced by AMA advocacy," he told doctors at the AMA's national conference in Brisbane on Sunday.

Dr Parnis called for doctors to take a more active role in mitigating climate change, with the negative health effects already becoming apparent and putting additional strain on the health system.

He said heatwaves in Victoria last summer produced a dramatic increase in visits to emergency departments.

Read the Sydney Morning Herald story - “Doctors union mounts push for government action to tackle climate change”.