December 09, 2024

SDG3.9 - Reducing Deaths and Illnesses from Hazardous Air, with Dr Bronwyn King AO, Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska and Anna-Maria Arabia

39 minutes

Welcome to Episode 8 of Good Will Hunters in our series on SDG3 – Good Health and Wellbeing. I am your host, Rachel Nunn.

This episode is the final in our series and focuses on SDG3.9 – Substantially reducing the number of deaths and illnesses caused by hazardous chemicals, air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. Poor air quality remains a significant health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where pollution disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations.

Today, I’m joined by three exceptional guests: Professor Lidia Morawska, a leading expert on air quality and its health impacts; Dr. Bronwyn King, a globally recognized radiation oncologist and tobacco-free investment advocate; and Anna-Maria Arabia, Chief Executive of the Australian Academy of Science:

Dr. Bronwyn King AO – Dr. King is a radiation oncologist and the founder and CEO of Tobacco Free Portfolios, recognized for her work in tobacco control and finance reform. She is also an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her service to community health.

Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska – Professor Morawska is internationally recognized for her work on air quality and its health impacts. She holds a distinguished professorship, which reflects her contributions to science and public health policy.

Anna-Maria Arabia – Anna-Maria is the Chief Executive of the Australian Academy of Science, known for her leadership in advocating for science and research in Australia and globally.

Together, we’ll explore the intersection of air quality, public health, and policy, discussing both the challenges and the innovations that can help us achieve cleaner air and healthier lives.

Indoor air quality gained significant attention during Covid-19, highlighting a critical gap in Australia’s health policies: we have no mandated standards for indoor air quality. Australians spend 90% of our time indoors, yet there are no regulations governing the quality of the air we breathe. Other countries are doing better in this regard, but many are also doing much worse.

As we close this series, I want to thank you for joining me on this exploration of SDG3. Australia's role as a major health donor to the region is crucial, and we need a cohesive plan to measure and report on our contributions to these targets. Strengthening health systems will require sustained investment in the health workforce, culturally sensitive care, road safety, and leveraging our incredible domestic R&D capabilities. And above all, we can’t manage what we don’t measure – tracking our progress is essential if we are to make real strides toward achieving good health and wellbeing for all.

It’s been a privilege to host this series, and I hope it’s inspired you to think about the work that lies ahead and how we can collectively drive progress. Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoy today’s episode.

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By Good Will Hunters