This summer, millions of people were exposed to toxic bushfire smoke for weeks on end, fueled by climate change that could very well worsen in the years to come if we don’t take action.
Seeing Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney on the world’s most polluted cities list, put air pollution on the map for all of us.
Each year, almost 5000 Australians die from exposure to air pollution and thousands more suffer serious health issues like stroke, lung cancer and heart disease. And that’s without counting the additional exposure to bushfire smoke.
The NSW Parliament has launched an Inquiry into the health impacts of air pollution with a focus on the bushfires.
What is critical in the fight for clean air is reducing the health burden of air pollution from all sources including bushfires. This means reducing toxic pollutants from major sources like coal-fired power stations.
Each year in NSW, exposure to toxic air pollution from coal-fired power stations causes 279 premature deaths, 233 low birthweight babies, 361 cases of type 2 diabetes.
We have to make sure the NSW government understands that cleaning up existing sources of air pollution is one of the most effective ways to reduce the health impacts of bushfire smoke.
Will you make a submission to the Inquiry and have your say on the impacts of the bushfire smoke and better measures to protect our health?
We’ve put together an easy submission guide to help get you started.
Here’s how you can have you say:
1. Write a submission
For government inquiries to succeed, they need to hear from the people they represent – you.
Understanding the full extent of how you have been impacted by air pollution means hearing from concerned citizens over the challenges at hand.
In order for your submission to be considered, it must be high quality and address specific criteria. We’ve put together a guide on how to write an effective government submission, to help you get started!
In short, here’s what to include in your submission:
- Start by introducing yourself, why you care about the inquiry into air pollution and why you’ve taken the time to make a submission.
- Identify the key issues that you want to raise and why they concern you.
- Add your own perspective and experiences. For example, you may like to explain your experience advocating in the space of coal ash, or your personal or community experience in dealing with the health impacts of air pollution.
- Use evidence and data to support your statements. You can find a list of resources, scientific studies and analysis by EJA’s coal pollution team at the end of our submission guide.
If you have any questions about writing your submission, please get in touch with Max at [email protected].
2. Submit your submission
Once completed, upload and send your submission to the NSW Inquiry.
3. Let us know when you’re done!
When you’ve finished and submitted your submission, let us know and send us a copy, so we can see how many people are speaking out in the NSW Air pollution Inquiry and keep you updated in the
review process. We’d also love to read your submission because we’re nerdy like that.