Fellow Fiona Armstrong hosts health and climate round-table at Parliament House

Fiona Armstrong.

Fiona Armstrong will host a leadership event and round-table discussion in Canberra tomorrow (Monday, October 10).

Fiona, the Executive Officer of the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) and a Fellow with the Centre for Policy Development (CPD) will lead discussions between health sector leaders and prominent Parliamentarians from all sides of politics.

 

Recently, Fiona was also name among Australia's top 100 most influential women.

This will be Australia’s first meeting to discuss the emerging threats to health resulting from climate change.

The CAHA, a grouping of health professionals dedicated to affecting climate change policy, was founded by Fiona, will take its concern for climate change and carbon emissions directly to MPs.

The alliance is hoping that tomorrow’s meeting will send a strong message to Australia’s wider health and medical community.

Read the Centre for Policy Development (CPD) release - “Fellow Fiona Armstrong hosts health and climate round-table at Parliament House.”

Discussion paper looks at climate and health with six "key" actions

Climate change poses both risks and opportunities for population health in Australia, according to the Melbourne-based Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA).

The alliance made this observation in “Executive summary” in a discussion paper it is taking to Canberra.

The paper – “Towards a national strategy on climate, health and wellbeing for Australia” has been prepared by Marissa Parry, Danielle Schutte, Rebecca Patrick, and Fiona Armstrong.

It argues that what it proposes will depend on the level of ambition and strategies chosen by the Federal Government and Australia’s climate policy will either negatively or positively drive health outcomes.

In proposing six key action areas it says: “To date, human health has been afforded a lack of priority in Australia’s national mitigation and adaptation policy and strategy actions.

“As such, Australia’s health sector is underprepared to deal with the health risks associated with climate change, and equally, to capitalise on the benefits of mitigation actions.

“A recent global survey reveals Australia lags behind comparable countries when it comes to protecting the health of its citizens from climate change,” the paper says.

CAHA chief executive, Fiona Armstrong, said about the discussion paper: “This is part of a national campaign to mobilise health professionals and groups in support of climate action.”

“We have a meeting with Parliamentarians and Health Leaders Roundtable in Canberra next Monday, October 10 to present this and talk about next steps,” she said.

Read the report – “Towards a national strategy on climate, health and wellbeing for Australia.”

Fiona Armstrong among Australia's 100 most influential women

Fiona Armstrong - she has visited and
spoken in both Shepparton and Tatura.

Fiona Armstrong has spoken in Shepparton at a Slap Tomorrow event and at an Environmental Film Festival organized by Tatura Transition Towns.

And now the tireless chief executive of the Melbourne-based Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) has been named as one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence.

She was one of 10 named in the “Social enterprise and not-for-profit” section of the awards.

In a message to her supporters, Fiona said: “Also amused to find myself in the company of Gina Rinehart! Hopefully we are all helping to address the harm she causes - and for that I’m grateful to you all for the work you do in the climate movement and the support, guidance and encouragement provided to both myself and CAHA as part of that effort.

“I hope it will be a boost for the issue of climate action and especially around health - I felt even getting my nomination in front of the selection panel (which included the Prime Minister's wife, Lucy Turnbull) would help raise awareness about this issue - and for that alone it was possibly worth doing!” she said.

Read the Financial Review story - “100 Women of Influence awards reveal hidden talent.”

'What's your plan?' - CAHA asks political parties

Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals are among the health professionals demanding all political parties explain how they plan to protect the health and well-being of all Australians under worsening climate change.

 Their responses will be compared on a scorecard that will be distributed to thousands of voting health professionals across Australia.

 Surveys from the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) have already been distributed to the Liberal Party, The Nationals, the ALP, The Greens, the Democratic Liberal Party and the Nick Xenophon Party in the lead up to the July 2 election.

Among other issues the survey assesses political support for the creation of a national climate and health strategy, greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, phasing out of coal and unconventional gas mining, and a national moratorium of new mines.

 CAHA President, Dr Liz Hanna, said: "The health sector is already under immense pressure, and increasing heatwaves, fires, floods and storms will place even greater demand on frontline, acute and community health services.

 

“We are the ones responsible for looking after people who become injured, sick and traumatized – and we are seeking assurances from all political parties that they are doing everything they can to protect people,” she said.  

CAHA Executive Director, Fiona Armstrong, said: “In places like the United States there is long-term and detailed plans and preparation underway to support the health care sector and protect people’s health from the adverse effects of climate change. Yet in Australia there is a significant lack of policy direction and leadership from most political parties. It’s just not good enough.”

The deadline for responses to the survey has been extended to June 9. The 2016 Climate and Health Scorecard will be released on June 20.

A copy of the online survey is available here.

Fiona Armstrong eager to find the root causes of the climate change 'disease'

F

ew people are more committed to tackling the symptoms of climate change and through that identifying and dealing with root causes of the “disease” than Fiona Armstrong.

Ms Armstrong is the founder and Executive Director of the Climate and Health Alliance, a national not-for-profit coalition of healthcare stakeholder groups that work together to advocate for climate action to protect and promote health.

The Climate and Health Alliance is a member of the Global Climate and Health Alliance and Australian partner of the international non-government organisation, Health Care Without Harm.

And today Ms Armstrong writes on The Conversation about the value, in health terms of climate mitigation.

Read her story - “Climate mitigation – the greatest public health opportunity of our time”.

Health Alliance calls for zero emissions by 2040

A

 call for zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2040 has come from the Australia’s Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA).

Just today the CAHA released its submission to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The alliance has called zero emissions in 2040, with a minimum target of:

•        20% reduction of 2000 CO2 levels by 2020;

•        40% by 2025;

•        60% by 2030;

•        80% by 2035; and

•        negative net emissions by 2050.

Executive Director of the alliance, Fiona Armstrong says, “Our top recommendations are for immediate closure of the seven oldest coal fired power stations and a ban on ALL new coal mining licences.”

Read the CAHA submission here……

Call to phase-out coal

The World Congress on Public Health has called for the phasing-out of coal.

At the close of their international conference in Kolkata, as part of a broad “Call to Action for Public Health,” the world’s public health associations advocated “a rapid phase-out of coal” to limit further global warming and prevent illnesses and deaths associated with air pollution.

Convenor of Australia’s Climate and Health Alliance, Fiona Armstrong, who was at the conference in India, has alerted us to demand.

A story from the conference headed: “World’s public health leaders call for an end to coal” tells of this decision.

“The Call to Action,” the story says, “points to the “contribution of fossil fuels and coal in particular to climate change as well as to detrimental impacts on the health and wellbeing of local communities.”

Beneath the Wisteria skills and knowledge on show in Tatura

Tatura’s late August “Day of conversations and film” draws heavily on Beneath the Wisteria supporters.

Prof Kate Auty.

Prof David
Karoly.

Four of the five speakers engaged for the day are supporters of the Shepparton-based group.
 

Although they have never been to a Beneath the Wisteria gathering in Shepparton’s Maude St, those on the mail-out list include: the University of Melbourne's  Professor David Karoly; the founder and convenor the Melbourne-based Climate and Health Alliance, Fiona Armstrong; Victoria’s former Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability and now a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Professor Kate Auty; and a sociologist from the University of Melbourne, Dr Hans Baer.
 

Fiona Armstrong.

The fifth speaker is Professor Peter Seligman who was a key member of the team that developed the Australian bionic ear.
 

All five will speak to a particular film and will be available to answer questions and conversation.
 

Films to be shown on the day include: “The Earth Wins”, “The Human Cost of Power”, “The Power of Community”, “Done with the Wind – sorting the fact from the fiction”.
 

The program, starting at 10:00am with registration from 9:00am, will also include a number of short films ranging from just a few minutes.

 

Dr Hans Baer.

Tatura’s Terry Court (also a committed supporter of Beneath the Wisteria) will also make a short presentation about a new and important energy project for the town; a project that could be the first step in achieving energy independence for the town.

 

Tatura Transition Towns has organized the “Day of conversations and film” and president, Ross Musolino, has booked the Hogan St “Gallery Café” for the event.
 

Ross said: “Transition Tatura brings to the Goulburn Valley community our inaugural film festival.
 

“It’s a day of conversations and films; a format that includes inspiring speakers, short films and time for both facilitated and free conversation.
 

Prof Peter
Seligman.

“If your interest is shaping the future for healthier communities, livelihoods and fun founded on initiatives that rebuild resilience and reduce emissions then this is the event for you,” Ross said.
 

A charge of $25 covers the full day, including morning and afternoon tea and a light lunch. People can book online by visiting Ticket Booth.
 

 

Those with any questions about the “Day of conversations and film” can contact Ross at 0407 845 247 or Mark Banting at markb@gvwater.vic.gov.au.

 

Shepparton health forum speaker writes on CPD website

Convenor and secretary of The Climate and Health Alliance, Fiona Armstrong, is one of three speakers who will address Slap Tomorrow’s climate change and community health forum in March.

 

She has written about “Australia’s abundant energy and opportunities for future wealth and health” on the Centre for Policy Development’s website.

“Unlike many other countries, Australia has no significant climate policy.

“Efforts to introduce a lacklustre emissions trading scheme have failed, and apart from some minor policies, Australia has no significant policy agenda to contribute to the global effort of stemming our relentless rise in greenhouse gas emissions, or to draw down our legacy of excess carbon dioxide (CO₂), as we are warned we must,” she wrote.

The Climate and Health Alliance is a national charity that is an alliance of organizations and people in the health sector working together to raise awareness about the health risks of climate change and the health benefits of emissions reductions.

Being election an year, ask the tough questions

Fiona Armstrong.

This being an election year, we should all read this and then act, and ask the tough questions.

One of the four authors of this piece – “Your MP doesn’t ‘believe’ in climate change? Ask the tough questions” – Fiona Armstrong, has agreed to talk later this year with those who gather each month Beneath the Wisteria in Shepparton.

We are busily working at coordinating Fiona’s visit to Shepparton with an opportunity for her to talk with health professionals from the Shepparton-based Goulburn Valley Health.

Ms Armstrong and her three counterparts say: “If your MP says “I don’t support policies to prevent dangerous climate change” because “I don’t believe climate change is occurring” or “I’m not sure climate change is human caused” is this position justifiable simply because it’s his or her personal opinion?”