More than 350 doctors joined climate action webinar

The AMA and Doctors for the Environment Australia reflected on the importance on the medical profession’s action on climate as the world gears up for the UN climate conference (COP26) in Glasgow, starting on 31 October 2021.

Almost all of Australia’s medical colleges and more than 350 doctors took part in the climate action webinar held 14 September. It was co-hosted by the AMA and Doctors for the Environment Australia, setting out their plans to ‘decarbonise their specialities’ and advocate for urgent climate action more broadly. 

In an article in MJA Insights published on Monday, the co-hosts of the webinar AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid and Dr Kate Charlesworth (a public health physician, and a member of the AMA and Doctors for the Environment Australia) present some of the key actions underway from across the profession, and reflections on the role of doctors in tackling climate change. 

“A number of presenters noted that doctors are highly influential and have a responsibility to advocate for broad climate action to protect health, as well as decarbonising our own sector. Many Colleges have position statements, which are important, but just the first step,” they said.