Doctors say green growth the best prescription

Friday 23 November
PRESS RELEASE

Doctors say green growth the best prescription for climate and health

OraTaiao: The New Zealand Climate and Health Council welcomes the leadership from the business sector with the recent release of the ‘Green Growth: Opportunities for New Zealand’ report.

The Council says the Green Growth report is timely, as the World Bank is warning of the dire consequences of our current path toward 4oC global warming – double the 2oC limit which countries have agreed as safe. The World Bank report outlines the negative health impacts of climate change, which is seen by leading world health authorities as this century’s biggest threat to human health.

Council spokesperson surgeon Mr Russell Tregonning says “Pure Advantage’s green growth report is the positive thinking we need – promoting economic and environmental outcomes and protecting our climate, health and wellbeing”.

“Green growth opportunities can be good for our health too” adds Mr Tregonning. “For example, increasing home insulation means homes are more energy efficient, warm, dry and healthy, and that’s good news for childhood asthma and chest infections”. Transport infrastructure that promotes cycling, walking and public transport also has huge health spin-offs. “Through active transport people exercise more which reduces obesity and diabetes, as well as reducing blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes” says Mr Tregonning.

The Council hopes that this business sector leadership, alongside serious public demand for climate action, inspires the government to support real change at the upcoming UNFCCC climate negotiations in Doha.

“Government must work with business and community now to secure our prosperous low-carbon future”, ends Mr Tregonning.

ENDS

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