21 April 2026
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is calling for stronger action to phase out fossil fuels, warning their ongoing use is harming the health of Australians and New Zealanders.
The RACP has released a major position statement this evening calling for both Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Governments to commit to a just, healthy transition to renewable energy.
The call comes as rising fuel costs and energy instability place increasing pressure on households.
RACP President Professor Jennifer Martin says “Fossil fuels are a health issue. Researchers estimate that fossil fuel driven air pollution causes over five million excess deaths globally each year.
“Every delay in getting to a complete phase out of fossil fuels is a delay in protecting people’s health.”
The statement says that there is an abundance of evidence to demonstrate that fossil fuels are harming health, damaging the environment, deepening health inequities, and undermining the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples and lands.
“Evidence also shows that fossil fuels are causing climate change, and both fossil fuel pollution and climate change threaten water and food security for the millions around the world.”
The RACP says that the current fuel crisis is just another example of why dependence on fossil fuels is a health issue.
“Our current reliance on fossil fuels is causing costs of living to soar, bringing economic stress to millions of people left unable to afford and reliably access fuel, food, and healthcare.
“The need to move away from coal, oil, and gas is clear and we have to find ways to manage the complexities that will arise. There are significant health implications for workers if they lose their jobs. We are calling on governments to ensure that workers moving away from the fossil fuel industry are supported to transition to employment in other sectors, including renewable energy.
To move towards a healthy future beyond fossil fuels the RACP is calling on both the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand governments to:
- Phase out fossil fuels
- Invest in renewable energy
- Centre Indigenous sovereignty and partnerships
- Reduce energy use and increasing energy efficiency
- Support healthcare system action, including electrification and preventive health
- Monitor and evaluate impact of transition policies on health and Indigenous equity
The RACP emphasises that the plan to phase out of fossil fuels must do so in a way that prioritises health equity and Indigenous justice and maintains energy reliability and affordability, particularly for the most impacted communities.
The statement takes a planetary health approach which integrates human health and the health of the natural systems on which we depend – apt for Earth Day tomorrow with events happening across the globe to promote environmental protection.
The statement can be found here:
RACP A Healthy Future Beyond Fossil Fuels Position Statement