Doctors Say New Climate Target Fails to Protect Australians’ Health
19 Sep 2025
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this week announced Australia will aim to cut emissions by 62–70% below 2005 levels by 2035, calling the target “ambitious but achievable.” The plan focuses on clean electricity, electric vehicles, clean fuels, new technologies and carbon removals.
However, medical groups argue the announcement overlooks the serious health impacts of climate change.
Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) said the target fails to meet the scale of the challenge and risks the health of communities. Executive Director Dr Kate Wylie described the move as a missed opportunity, calling climate change “the most important health intervention our Government can take.”
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) also raised concerns. Dr Catherine Pendrey, Chair of the RACGP’s Climate and Environmental Medicine group, said while the target is a step forward, it falls well short of what is needed to reduce emissions and avoid the worst health impacts.
She warned that without stronger action, Australians will face worsening health effects from:
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more frequent and severe bushfires and floods
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rising deaths from extreme heat
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increasing spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as Japanese encephalitis.
DEA Chair Professor Nick Talley added that the Government’s ongoing support for fossil fuel projects undermines its climate commitments. He compared the approach to “treating a patient’s COPD while still encouraging them to smoke.”
Health professionals are calling for stronger emissions targets and faster action, arguing that climate change is already a climate health emergency.
Source: Department of Health and Aged Care; newsGP; Doctors for the Environment Australia.
