---
title: NSW air causing early deaths
description: Air pollution in New South Wales is estimated to cause 603 premature deaths each year.
---
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The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
# NSW air causing early deaths
Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Air pollution in New South Wales is estimated to cause 603 premature deaths each year, as long-term research into Sydney’s air quality suggests most people in the region are exposed to air pollution at levels considered unsafe by the World Health Organisation.
Australia's nuclear submarine arrangement with the United States and United Kingdom has been flagged by The Australian Conservation Foundation as a threat to the nation's environmental security. The foundation's nuclear analyst Dave Sweeney said Australia did not have the experience and expertise required to manage high-level radioactive waste.
Institutional shareholders angry at Woodside Energy’s approach to climate change will take their fight to its board for the first time. Shareholder advocacy group the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR), alongside institutional investors Vision Super and Betashares – said on Wednesday they had lost faith in certain Woodside directors.
**Top stories:**
[Study reveals unsafe air quality in Sydney](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/15/air-pollution-in-nsw-causes-603-premature-deaths-and-costs-48bn-a-year-study-finds?utm_term=6410cf6da51c7041d82a49e3ad684e97&utm_campaign=MorningMailAUS&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=morningmailau_email)
Air pollution in New South Wales is estimated to cause 603 premature deaths each year, as long-term research into Sydney’s air quality suggests most people in the region are exposed to air pollution at levels considered unsafe by the World Health Organisation. This also increases health costs by $4.8bn each year, according to the [Sydney air quality study](https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/research-and-publications/publications-search/sydney-air-quality-study-program-report-stage-2).
[Nuclear subs pose environmental hazards](https://www.kyfreepress.com.au/national/aukus-critics-raise-environmental-security-threat/)
Australia's nuclear submarine arrangement with the United States and United Kingdom has been flagged by The Australian Conservation Foundation as a threat to the nation's environmental security. The foundation's nuclear analyst Dave Sweeney said Australia did not have the experience and expertise required to manage high-level radioactive waste. Other nuclear experts have said that Australia [lacks the skills](https://www.edenmagnet.com.au/story/8120357/australias-nuclear-skills-need-to-ramp-up-experts-say/) for this venture.
[Woodside shareholders angry at fossil-fuel giant](https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2023/03/15/angry-shareholders-woodside-directors-re-election-climate-change/)
Institutional shareholders angry at Woodside Energy’s approach to climate change will take their fight to its board for the first time. Shareholder advocacy group the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR), alongside institutional investors Vision Super and Betashares – said on Wednesday they had lost faith in certain Woodside directors.
[Aussie farmers want to reduce their emissions](https://www.stockandland.com.au/story/8120989/more-programs-and-information-needed-to-help-farmers-lower-emissions/)
Lobby group Farmers for Climate Action are calling for a new federal policy to support farmers to be more efficient in their emissions output, after a country-wide survey revealed many farmers are not sure where to start.
[Black Cockatoo habitat endangered in WA](https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/conservation/watchdog-call-on-gnangara-pines-could-strike-killer-blow-to-cockatoos-20230314-p5crzi.html)
Western Australia’s environmental watchdog has decided to assess the impact on black cockatoos of clearing the last of Perth’s pines – but only *after* the bulk of the clearing takes place. The group Save the Black Cockatoos said cutting down the remainder before the impact was officially assessed amounted to a “killer blow” for the species.
[Super funds failing to deliver on climate promises](https://www.marketforces.org.au/australias-five-biggest-super-funds-failing-on-key-climate-promises/#)
A new report by Market Forces found Australia’s five biggest super funds are greenwashing and exposing themselves to legal risk by failing to effectively engage with companies expanding fossil fuels. *“There’s an appalling gap between climate commitments and real action by our biggest super funds and this is a slap in the face for members who deserve a safe future to retire into,”* said Brett Morgan, author of the ‘Stewards of Climate Disaster’ report.
[Thailand searches for lost radioactive capsule](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-15/thailand-searches-missing-radioactive-cylinder-taken-power-plant/102095480)
Thai authorities are scrambling to find a cylinder containing dangerous radioactive material that went missing from a power station, warning of serious health risks from direct exposure. A 25-kilogram metal tube containing Caesium-137 was reported missing from a power station in Thailand on Friday.
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