Home > Public Health Association calls on Medibank to divest

Public Health Association calls on Medibank to divest

3 November 2017

3 November , 2017

The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) has made a strong statement in favour of fossil fuel divestment, calling on health insurer Medibank to divest its shares in coal, oil and gas companies.

The peak Australian public health body, which represents thousands of health professionals, has added their voice to that of thousands of Medibank’s customers, shareholders and the general public who see good health and continued fossil fuel use as incompatible.

In its letter, the PHAA outlines the threats that climate change and fossil fuel use pose to public health:

“…climate change is one of the greatest threats to human health this century. Mitigation of greenhouse gases is essential to protect current and future people form the health impacts of fossil fuel use. If global warming is to be limited to less than two degrees, in keeping with the Paris Agreement, the transition from fossil fuels needs to be made urgently…

“There are also direct health impacts of fossil fuels and the mining and transport of fossil fuels, including from dust, particulates and volatile chemical exposures, mining accidents and heavy metal dispersion.”

The letter ends with a call for Medibank to take action:

“PHAA calls on Medibank to urgently divest from companies whose activities are directly and indirectly causing severe effects on human health by financially supporting fossil fuels.”

To read the full letter click here.

Medibank’s annual general meeting is coming up on 13 November. Join the call for fossil fuel divestment by contacting them using the form below. To find out more about the health insurance industry’s fossil fuel investments click here.

Name*
First Last
Email Address*
Phone
Postcode*
Please tick if you are a Medibank
- Customer
- Shareholder
Subject (you can edit this)
Your message (you can personalise and amend this, your name will be automatically added at the end)*
Dear Medibank, I am dismayed to hear that Medibank has millions of dollars invested in fossil fuel companies including the likes of Santos, Whitehaven Coal and Glencore. These companies are the primary sources of carbon emissions causing dangerous climate change, which is already having measurable impacts on public health. Fossil fuel extraction, transportation and combustion also directly cause pollution and ecological destruction - having terrible impacts on human health across the globe and in Australia. One clear example of this is the growing concern over miners in Queensland and New South Wales being diagnosed with black lung disease and other respiratory illnesses. The Lancet, the world’s foremost medical journal has described climate change as the “biggest global health threat of the 21st Century”. Here in Australia, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) divested from fossil fuels in 2015, saying: "The RACP is committed to leadership in reducing the adverse health impacts and realising the potential health benefits of climate change. As a first step in reducing its own carbon footprint, in 2015 the RACP decided to divest from all financial holdings in or directly linked to fossil fuel industries.” I find it incredibly hypocritical that a company claiming to be “for better health” is invested in fossil fuels when the latest research suggests that they are causing a global health catastrophe. I urge you to quickly announce a plan for divestment from fossil fuels and taking a strong stance in favour of strong action on climate change. Yours sincerely,
Your message (you can personalise and amend this, your name will be automatically added at the end)*
Dear Medibank, I am a customer of yours and I'm dismayed to hear that Medibank has millions of dollars invested in fossil fuel companies including the likes of Santos, Whitehaven Coal and Glencore. These companies are the primary sources of carbon emissions causing dangerous climate change, which is already having measurable impacts on public health. Fossil fuel extraction, transportation and combustion also directly cause pollution and ecological destruction - having terrible impacts on human health across the globe and in Australia. One clear example of this is the growing concern over miners in Queensland and New South Wales being diagnosed with black lung disease and other respiratory illnesses. The Lancet, the world’s foremost medical journal has described climate change as the “biggest global health threat of the 21st Century”. Here in Australia, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) divested from fossil fuels in 2015, saying: "The RACP is committed to leadership in reducing the adverse health impacts and realising the potential health benefits of climate change. As a first step in reducing its own carbon footprint, in 2015 the RACP decided to divest from all financial holdings in or directly linked to fossil fuel industries.” I find it incredibly hypocritical that a company claiming to be “for better health” is invested in fossil fuels when the latest research suggests that they are causing a global health catastrophe. Please reply to this email to let me know what, if any, plans Medibank has for divestment from fossil fuels and taking a strong stance in favour of strong action on climate change. For the record I would like to state that for the reasons outlined above, I want a health insurer that is not investing my money in the fossil fuel industry and never will. If you are unable to guarantee this, then I will start looking for an alternative insurer that can. Yours sincerely,
Your message (you can personalise and amend this, your name will be automatically added at the end)*
Dear Medibank, I am a shareholder of yours and I'm dismayed to hear that Medibank has millions of dollars invested in fossil fuel companies including the likes of Santos, Whitehaven Coal and Glencore. These companies are the primary sources of carbon emissions causing dangerous climate change, which is already having measurable impacts on public health. Fossil fuel extraction, transportation and combustion also directly cause pollution and ecological destruction - having terrible impacts on human health across the globe and in Australia. One clear example of this is the growing concern over miners in Queensland and New South Wales being diagnosed with black lung disease and other respiratory illnesses. The Lancet, the world’s foremost medical journal has described climate change as the “biggest global health threat of the 21st Century”. Here in Australia, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) divested from fossil fuels in 2015, saying: "The RACP is committed to leadership in reducing the adverse health impacts and realising the potential health benefits of climate change. As a first step in reducing its own carbon footprint, in 2015 the RACP decided to divest from all financial holdings in or directly linked to fossil fuel industries.” I find it incredibly hypocritical that a company claiming to be “for better health” is invested in fossil fuels when the latest research suggests that they are causing a global health catastrophe. Please reply to this email to let me know what, if any, plans Medibank has for divestment from fossil fuels and taking a strong stance in favour of strong action on climate change. For the record I would like to state that for the reasons outlined above, I want an investment that is not involved with the fossil fuel industry and never will be. If you are unable to guarantee this, then I will start looking for an alternative investment that can. Yours sincerely,
Your message (you can personalise and amend this, your name will be automatically added at the end)*
Dear Medibank, I am both a shareholder and customer of yours and I'm dismayed to hear that Medibank has millions of dollars invested in fossil fuel companies including the likes of Santos, Whitehaven Coal and Glencore. These companies are the primary sources of carbon emissions causing dangerous climate change, which is already having measurable impacts on public health. Fossil fuel extraction, transportation and combustion also directly cause pollution and ecological destruction - having terrible impacts on human health across the globe and in Australia. One clear example of this is the growing concern over miners in Queensland and New South Wales being diagnosed with black lung disease and other respiratory illnesses. The Lancet, the world’s foremost medical journal has described climate change as the “biggest global health threat of the 21st Century”. Here in Australia, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) divested from fossil fuels in 2015, saying: "The RACP is committed to leadership in reducing the adverse health impacts and realising the potential health benefits of climate change. As a first step in reducing its own carbon footprint, in 2015 the RACP decided to divest from all financial holdings in or directly linked to fossil fuel industries.” I find it incredibly hypocritical that a company claiming to be “for better health” is invested in fossil fuels when the latest research suggests that they are causing a global health catastrophe. Please reply to this email to let me know what, if any, plans Medibank has for divestment from fossil fuels and taking a strong stance in favour of strong action on climate change. For the record I would like to state that for the reasons outlined above, I want a health insurer that is not investing my money in the fossil fuel industry and never will. If you are unable to guarantee this, then I will start looking for an alternative insurer that can. Yours sincerely,
Are you interested/willing to switch to a fossil free health insurer?
- Yes
- Maybe, will need more information
- No
Of course I want to get updates about this campaign from Market Forces!
- Yes
I'd like to volunteer on the campaign to shift finance away from fossil fuels
- Yes