Dr Kate Wylie - The Health Hazards of Climate Change

Dr Kate Wylie is an Adelaide-based GP, the founder of Climate Medicine, and the Executive Director of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), a not-for-profit advocacy organisation that recognises human health depends on a healthy environment. Dr Wylie is a master communicator who has emerged as a leading voice in Australia for highlighting the health implications of climate change while championing change and actionable solutions.

This is Kate’s second full episode and third appearance on the podcast, first chatting with us in season 1 episode 22 and contributing to our end-of-year wrap-up in 2021. With significant developments in planetary health and Dr Wylie’s professional journey since our last conversation, catching up was long overdue!

In this episode, we had the opportunity to delve into DEA's recent endeavours and discuss our climate's current state. Kate shares insights into the profound effects of climate change on the health of Australians while highlighting the importance of proactive measures.

Despite the multitude of challenges posed by climate change, Dr Wylie’s message remains resolute: Our planet is worth saving, and so are we. It’s not game over, it’s game on.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Kate’s shift from general practice to becoming Executive Director of DEA
• Hiking the Larapinta Trail to raise money for DEA
• The recent 2024 iDEA conference
• Fossil Fuels as a health hazard
• DEA’s lobbying work and recent submissions
• The Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity Bill and Senate Inquiry
• Why we should consider the health impacts of proposed fossil fuel projects
• Health impacts of vehicle emissions
• The increase in allergens due to climate change
• The carbon footprint of various asthma inhalers
• Climate change and health hazards: Heatwaves, extreme heat, flooding and storms, bushfires
• Key messages from the 2023 MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change
• Healthcare sustainability – transitioning to an environmentally sustainable healthcare sector in Australia
• Kate’s suggestions on how we can all advocate for change

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

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