New Zealand has signed up to the Paris climate agreement, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the increase in global temperatures. The Government is consulting—with some urgency—on the institutional and legislative instruments that will give effect to our Paris agreement obligations. We urge health professionals to make submissions.

Part of the process includes the Zero Carbon Bill (ZCB), which the Ministry of the Environment (MfE) is currently consulting on1,2 and which is far-reaching. A ZCB should commit New Zealand to limiting global average temperature rise to well below 2°C—and to pursue efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C.

The Ministry of the Environment has invited submissions on this Bill closing next Thursday 19 July. Health professionals can submit easily and quickly via
zerocarbonbillhealth.org.nz.

The impacts on human health of climate change are well recognised. Less well recognised, but just as important, is that measures to reduce emissions have substantial positive effects upon health. Tackling climate change is described as perhaps the greatest global health opportunity this century.3 Reducing emissions from motor vehicles by changing modes of transport—walking and cycling in particular—increase activity levels with reductions in obesity and cardiovascular disease. Reducing meat consumption and changing to a plant-based diet reduces not just emissions but also non-communicable disease, including bowel cancer—a particular problem in New Zealand. Warm, dry, well-insulated homes, that do not require additional emissions to heat, reduce the incidence of respiratory infections and diseases such as asthma.4

In short, measures to reduce emissions in New Zealand have the potential to not just reduce the negative impacts of increased global warming, but also to positively improve health now. There are health co-benefits, and savings to health budgets, from reducing emissions. We can get important health and productivity gains from well-designed fast climate action, and the sooner we act, the easier the transition and the greater the gains. We ask that climate action be fast, fair,5–8 firm and founded on Te Tiriti, with health at its heart. This is a potential win-win for the health of New Zealanders.

As the Zero Carbon Act will be essential for the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders, OraTaiao: The New Zealand Climate and Health Council has, with other health organisations, prepared a submission guide on the Bill for people working in the health sector. This submission guide addresses not only the importance of reducing emissions, but also the positive outcomes for health from measures that are healthy and equitable5 (www.orataiao.org.nz/zcb). (You can choose a fast five-minute submission online or a full online submission with healthy suggestions for all the MfE’s 16 discussion questions.)

This is important health legislation, and submissions close next Thursday July 19 at 5pm.

We encourage all health professionals9 to submit on the Zero Carbon Bill. And please encourage your whānau, workmates, flatmates, friends, colleagues, professional organisations, and neighbours to have their say, for our health’s sake.

‍