Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) is writing an open letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health regarding the risks of fossil gas. Concerned supporters can sign the letter and read more on the DEA website.

This letter highlights that fossil gas is not just an environmental issue, but a direct public health threat. From respiratory illnesses in the home to the broader climate impacts of methane emissions and extreme weather, the risks are widespread and indefensible.

For Tasmania, as we transition to a renewable future, understanding these health-related drivers is crucial. The letter calls for:

1. A clear timeline for phasing out fossil gas.
2. Support for communities to disconnect from gas networks and replace appliances.
3. Ensuring the gas industry bears the costs of health and environmental harms.

Far South Food Resilience Program writes on their website about food security frameworks in regional Tasmania. Read more at https://farsouthfood.org.au/.

The program identifies six critical dimensions of food security: availability, access, utilisation, stability, agency, and sustainability.

For Tasmania, strengthening these local food systems is a vital component of climate resilience. By ensuring our regional communities can feed themselves sustainably without compromising the environment, we build a stronger defense against the disruptions caused by a changing climate.

Parents for Climate have shared a beautiful new resource designed to help families talk to young children about climate-related emergencies. Charlie's Birthday Adventure, written by GP Dr Michelle Hamrosi and illustrated by Courtenay Tooth, is a gentle, community-informed children's book that models emergency preparedness and safety.

As Tasmanians face increasingly volatile fire seasons due to climate change, preparing our households emotionally and practically is more important than ever. This resource is an invaluable tool for parents looking to have honest, calm, and reassuring conversations about disaster preparedness with little ones without inducing fear.

The book was developed through extensive community consultation with child therapists, trauma psychologists, and educators. It is accompanied by free activity worksheets to help reinforce safety messages through play. You can read the full story and download the book and worksheets on the Parents for Climate website.

350 Australia has launched a new campaign and petition calling for an urgent national moratorium on the construction of AI data centres. Read and sign the petition on 350 Australia.

For Tasmania and the rest of Australia, the rapid expansion of power-hungry data centres poses a serious threat to the clean energy transition. Data centres are projected to draw as much electricity from the grid by 2036 as all households in New South Wales and Victoria combined. Without strong safeguards, big tech risks monopolising renewable resources and locking in fossil fuel reliance to meet soaring baseload demands.

The petition demands that state and federal governments block new construction until laws are established to enforce:

1. Free, prior, and informed consent from Traditional Owners
2. 100% power from new renewable energy sources, not existing coal and gas
3. Rigorous, transparent environmental and community impact assessments
4. Closed-loop recycled water systems to protect local drinking water
5. An independent AI data centre regulator with enforcement powers to audit and penalise non-compliance