Australian doctors are pushing for action on climate change to be a key part of the Federal Government’s COVID-19 economic recovery plan.

Some 10 doctors’ groups, representing 75% (90,000) of Australian doctors, have written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison urging him to put health and climate change at the centre of the pandemic recovery plan.

“The world is in the middle of two global health emergencies: the viral pandemic and climate change,” write the groups, including the AMA, RACGP, ACRRM and Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), which co-ordinated the letter.

“As we continue efforts to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we must ensure that we also have a whole-of-government approach towards addressing climate change, which also has potentially catastrophic health impacts.”