Writer
David Shearman
Dr <a href="https://www.davidshearman.org/">David Shearman</a> AM PhD FRACP FRCPE, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Co-founder of Doctors for the Environment Australia. www.dea.org.au
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Land clearing: an environmental and human health disaster that must stop
Governments must come to understand that preservation of life support systems is more vital than many economic ones and they must develop the ability to explain this to the public. Continue reading »
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Will the Lake Eyre Basin be sacrificed on the altar of gas production?
The integrity of the ecology of the Lake Eyre Basin and its water supply from the Great Artesian Basin are threatened by oil and gas development and by ineffective state and federal administration. Continue reading »
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Defence strategy, climate change and the need for AUKUS in 2050
The AUKUS deal for nuclear submarines by 2050 indicates that government has little grasp of the likely chaotic state of the world after current trajectories on climate and environmental change have played out for the next 27 years. In turn this engenders insecurity over their knowledge and ability to deliver appropriate policies on these threats. Continue reading »
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Dire climate crisis requires shift to “Make it 16” voting
Government action must lead the way by having 16 and 17 year olds vote at the next national election. Let us copy the “Make it 16” campaign in NZ. Continue reading »
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Drastic economic reform needed to address climate change
Realisation is dawning that the climate and environmental crises will not be solved by current national policies. The reason is that the current market economy based on everlasting growth is the prime cause of these crises. Continue reading »
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We need urgent action to save our life support systems
We must modify our sluggish democracy to act urgently, transform our economy, and save our life support systems. The alternative is for economic change to be delivered brutally by nature. Continue reading »
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Deaths from heat waves can be prevented by community shelters
Australia has no national policy to prevent the rising death toll in heatwaves. The provision of insulated and air conditioned housing in many remote communities will take years. In the meantime heat shelters must be urgently provided. Continue reading »
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Badly injured developing nations promised palliative care at COP27
At COP27, oil and gas lobbyists triumphed, while badly injured developing nations were condemned to die with the promise of palliative care. Continue reading »
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Can China lead the way on climate reparations?
At a time when the developing nations are doing it tough in the face of inflation, rising power and food prices, many poor African, Asian and Pacific Island nations, struggling with the ravages of climate change, are asking for reparation. Will it be China and not the US that leads the way? Continue reading »
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The Murray Darling Basin Plan has fundamental problems and needs replacing
After nearly ten years of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, implemented to ensure the river remains viable, there is overwhelming evidence that the Plan is ineffective and should be replaced. Continue reading »
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Beetaloo gas field: Resurrect health impact assessments to save lives
Our new government walks both sides of the street on fossil fuels. Continue reading »
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Ecological services are essential for the sustainable future of our planet home
This a plea for understanding of the crucial functioning of ecological services, a complex issue requiring the interrelationship of many disciplines and most importantly a fundamental reform of economic ideology. These services must be central in the promised Independent Environmental Protection Agency. Continue reading »
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If I was minister for the environment, my one crucial reform would offer a sustainable future for Australia
The most urgent and vital decision that the Minister could make to help secure a sustainable future for Australia would be to establish a scientifically based national independent Environmental Protection Agency with statutory powers. Continue reading »
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A Federal ICAC is needed to protect the environment and climate change laws
The survival of democracy depends on checks and balances, the possibility of corruption being exposed through an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) which will provide a vital check on rorting of the environment. Continue reading »
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We need national unity to act on the climate emergency
The basic science underlying the climate emergency indicates that green house emissions must stop this decade. This now seems unlikely and we need a national unity government to make us more secure from its consequences. Continue reading »
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‘Let it rip’ mentality underlies Australia’s cruelest policy failures
Australia’s Covid ‘let it rip’ mentality is deeply ingrained in the nation’s past and, through climate and environmental inaction, is driving a larger peril. Continue reading »
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Economic planners do not reckon with climate crisis bearing down on us
The current population of 25 million may be Australia’s limit, unless we are prepared to reduce our lifestyle footprint. Continue reading »
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Crash and burn: the deadly climate policies of our major parties
The Coalition and Labor refuse climate action that will ensure humanity’s survival, even as thousands die globally from the burning of fossil fuels. Continue reading »
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Party’s over for climate vandals: only informed independents can save us
A new parliament is urgently needed with the ability to act on the climate crisis and this must include young people whose future is at stake. Continue reading »
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One minute to midnight: only fresh thinking can tackle climate and biodiversity crises
The world’s biodiversity will continue to deteriorate even if temperature rise was arrested. The question for the Glasgow summit is whether our emission-driving economic system can respond. Continue reading »
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The climate apocalypse: Can a collapse of global civilisation be avoided?
If OECD countries don’t phase out existing coal by 2030, they will be facilitating global collapse. Continue reading »
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The EU tariff plan is good news for Australia’s place in the World
The steady deterioration in Australia’s environment and the ineffective revision of the EPBC Act suggests that we need help from other developed nations to solve our problem. This help may come from proposals on trade from the EU and the USA. Continue reading »
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The curse of coal and government health malfeasance
Policies which prolong the life of coal shorten the lives of many Australians and must be confronted – they are preventable deaths. It is distressing that ideology and ignorance have come to this. Continue reading »
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Outcomes of the ‘Biodiversity, Natural Capital and the Economy’ Report at the G7 Summit
Following Australia’s extravagant claims to climate leadership at the G7, hopes for a more diplomatic approach were dashed by a Prime Ministerial statement claiming that “Australia is a frontrunner when it comes to taking action to conserve our biodiversity…” Continue reading »
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Mr Morrison, the G7 Summit and the report “Biodiversity, Natural Capital and the Economy”
When Mr Morrison arrives at the G7 Leaders Summit later this week he will have before him a report on Biodiversity and if he reads and understands it he will realise that Australia’s reformed gross domestic product (GDP) would almost certainly be in negative territory and likely to fall further because of our poor record Continue reading »
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Democratic reform is vital to address the climate and environmental crises
Society faces a fast moving confluence of climate change, environmental decay, and increasing zoonoses but fails to recognise the most compelling underlying problem, the crumbling ability of democratic systems to deliver any meaningful action. Continue reading »
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The importance of environmental water: is the national water initiative up to the job?
Momentous decisions are needed on water policy to ensure that life in Australia is sustainable when climate change is advancing and the natural environment is deteriorating rapidly. Is the National Water Initiative (NWI) capable of reform to ensure a sustainable future? Continue reading »
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Does the desire for power over-ride saving lives by acting on climate change adaptation?
A key role of government is to save lives. It has done this admirably for Covid-19 at huge expense. It will need to do the same regarding climate change adaptation if we are to protect human health and lives. Continue reading »
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The continuing loss of plant, animal and reptile species has dire consequences
While cats provide much-needed companionship, they are also genetically programmed killers. Cats have devastating effects on biodiversity, which is vital for food security. .. Estimates are that domestic cats kill 61 million birds a year and those becoming feral kill more than 300 million birds plus countless small mammals and reptiles. By contrast the recent Australian Continue reading »
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The economic conductor of the catastrophes of climate change and biodiversity loss
The human brain seems unable to grasp the magnitude of the global problems we face in moving to ways of sustainable living and governance systems which can deliver a secure future for our children. Continue reading »
