Sometimes it seems like the sheer scale and complexity of climate change is too daunting for us to tackle as doctors, but I recently spoke to two doctors who have changed my mind.

Albury-based GP, Dr Rebecca McGowan, was shocked to see a patient’s photo of her placenta from the birth of her tiny premature baby.

It was grey and shrivelled like someone who smoked a pack-a-day. The thing is, she had never smoked a cigarette in her life. But she had been exposed to unprecedented levels of bushfire smoke.  

That was the moment Dr McGowan knew she could no longer sit on the sidelines.