Since September, images of fires in Australia have been around the world. Hundreds of forest fires have broken out and some continue to devastate part of the country. The resulting "toxic fumes" worry doctors. They speak of a "public health emergency" and ask the government for concrete measures to deal with this air pollution which is dangerous for health.
"Smoke from the fires has caused air pollution up to eleven times the level estimated to be 'dangerous' in parts of Sydney and New South Wales," said an Alliance statement. climate and health. The week of December 11, state services recorded a 48% increase in the number of people going to the emergency room for respiratory problems compared to a 5-year average.
The Climate and Health Alliance is also calling on the government to take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, saying that climate change is making fires worse. Rarely, the Australian Prime Minister recognized on December 12 the link between climate change and devastating fires, but without announcing any measures.
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