Divestment

“We are health workers and the choice to end any links to fossil fuel assets is an ethical one. Investing in industries that cause harm to human health is incompatible with our duty of care.”

Dr Helen Redmond.

Prof Melissa Haswell question went to the heart of Santos' 2020 AGM. Their response? 

Public health expert Prof Melissa Haswell asked an important question at Santos' 2020 annual general meeting which was held online due to Covid-19:  How will the oil and gas giant protect our communities, especially our unborn children, infants and children, from their current and proposed gas projects?

Text of letter on divestment sent to Royal Colleges (apart from RACP) and other doctors' organisations

In welcome news, the American Medical Association recently voted to divest their financial holdings from fossil fuel companies. To date the only major medical organisation in Australia to move its investments from these hazardous fuels has been the RACP. DEA has written to the AMA, RACGP, RACS, ANZCA, ACEM, RANZCOG, RANZCP, ACRMM urging them to divest from fossil fuels and signal their commitment to action on climate change. Read the letter HERE.

Medical Observer: How doctors can use money as a force for good health

There are arguably three dimensions of medical ethics. The first is the health of the patient. The second dimension is the health of the community. And the third dimension concerns how our actions both in and out of the clinic affect the global community and natural world around us on which the health of current and future generations depends. 

DEA welcomes the divestment announcement of Medibank Private Health Insurance

DEA congratulates Medibank Private Health Insurance on their announcement today that they will commence divestment from fossil fuels, in acknowledgement of the health impacts of climate change. This follows their announcement earlier this year that they will reach carbon neutrality in their own operations by 2018.

Medical Students Guide To Divestment

Open Forum: Using my money as a force for good

by Rebecca Tuma

Divestment is the opposite of investment and means getting rid of stocks, bonds or funds that are deemed unethical or morally ambiguous. Leading up to Divestment Day, Rebecca Tuma urges you to use your consumer power and put your money where your convictions are.

Doctors calling on other health professionals to join the divestment movement

Croakey: Where does your bank stand on fossil fuels? A call for health professionals to divest.

Climate change is one of three “slow-motion disasters” shaping the global health landscape, together with the rise of antimicrobial resistance and non-communicable diseases, according to the World Health Organization’s Director General Dr Margaret Chan.

Media release: Doctors take a stand against banking giants’ support of fossil fuels

18 May 2016

Doctors for the Environment Australia divests from Bank South Australia, a subsidiary of Westpac

DEA has today closed its accounts with Bank South Australia, a subsidiary of the Westpac Group. This large financial institution supports fossil fuel industries- the main driver of climate change which is threatening health. As doctors we have a duty of care to protect the public’s wellbeing. View our letter terminating our accounts.

Open Forum: Fossil fuel divestment: Why Australia’s uni students are turning the other cheek

Students across Australia are staging bold actions at their universities to demand divestment from fossil fuels. Why do the issues of climate change and fossil fuel investment resonate so strongly with university students? It’s about equality and justice, explains Damian Gill.

Croakey: Health groups lead call to end investment in coal, oil and gas

A new paper Investing in Health, released this week by the Climate and Health Alliance and Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), highlights the opportunity and the rationale for health and medical professionals to shift their investments away from coal, oil and gas industries.

In the piece below, Fiona Armstrong, Executive Director of CAHA and Dr Helen Redmond from DEA highlight the lead taken by international medical organisations in divesting in fossil fuels and argue that health professionals have both a moral and practical impetus to join the growing disinvestment movement.

Croakey article: Health groups lead call to end investment in coal, oil and gas

A new paper Investing in Health, released this week by the Climate and Health Alliance and Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), highlights the opportunity and the rationale for health and medical professionals to shift their investments away from coal, oil and gas industries.

In the piece below, Fiona Armstrong, Executive Director of CAHA and Dr Helen Redmond from DEA highlight the lead taken by international medical organisations in divesting in fossil fuels and argue that health professionals have both a moral and practical impetus to join the growing disinvestment movement.

Media release: Launch of joint report urging the health sector to divest

Doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, health organisations and health super funds urged to quit coal, oil and gas

Investing in Health report: how health professionals can help shape the future

Doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, health organisations and health super funds urged to quit coal, oil and gas.

AFR: First State Super slaps companies with more than 20pc coal, oil and gas revenue

One of Australia’s biggest industry funds, First State Super, recently announced it was is divesting its socially responsible funds from all companies that source more than 20 per cent of their operating revenue from coal, oil and gas.

The Australian Financial Review’s Amanda Saunders wrote a story which in part credited DEA for its involvement in the initiative. She wrote: “doctors who pushed for the move say they have a  “moral imperative” to support the transition to a renewable economy” and that divestment is “a public health measure”.

Medical Observer comment: Why doctors must lead fossil fuel fight

IN 2013, the federal government’s Future Fund and many superannuation funds dumped investments in tobacco companies following a long campaign by health groups.

Divestment

The following DEA Divestment resources are available for use by community groups:

Media Release: DEA welcomes RACP’s announcement to divest from fossil fuels

Doctors for the Environment Australia welcomes the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) announcement this week that it will divest investments in companies involved in fossil fuel activities from its  $90 million investment portfolio.

Launch of DEA’s Divestment FAQs

With Global Divestment Day just around the corner on 13 to 14 February, we are pleased to launch our DEA Divestment FAQs! Please view this timely publication Divestment FAQs.

Divestment FAQ’s

The Divestment FAQs was developed by Doctors for the Environment Australia ahead of the first ever Global Divestment Day on 13 to 14 February 2015.

News Item: Join DEA for Global Divestment Day, 13 to 14 February

The very first Global Divestment Day is just four weeks away on 13 and 14 February, and thousands of people in cities and on campuses all over the world will take action against fossil fuels.

News Item: Doctors and medical students make a stand on Divestment Day

Members from Doctors for the Environment Australia and Australian Medical Students Association will close their accounts with the Big Four banks, or notify these financial institutions of their intention to do so, on Divestment Day this coming Saturday (October 18, 2014).

Doctors and medical students make a stand on Divestment Day

Global climate changes need action

This article by DEA Member Helen Redmond was published in Medical Observer 15th July 2014 and appears under a Creative Commons licence.

Australian doctors support the British Medical Association, 26 June 2014

“Australian doctors support the British Medical Association’s announcement to dump investments in fossil fuels”

Divestment and public health flyer

The following flyer was developed by DEA, AMSA and 350.org connecting divestment and public health

Media Release: Doctors join ‘National Day of Divestment Action’ Saturday 3 May 2014

Doctors and medical students are calling climate change a ‘public health emergency’ and urging divestment from fossil fuels nationally

DEA Action on Divestment: vote with your money!

The following letter was sent to all DEA members calling for Action – August 2013

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