David’s story from Canberra

Could not keep the smoke out

David was imprisoned in his home when the neighbor fired up the wood heater, but staying inside didn’t protect him enough.

The wood smoke infiltrated inside, despite closed windows and doors. David struggled to breathe, and needed to be hospitalized on several occasions. Talking to the wood-burning neighbor did not help the situation.

Local authorities took little concrete action against the polluting wood heater despite David lodging numerous complaints over a long period.

In the end, he gave up and planned to sell his home of many years. But before he and his family could do that, David was rushed to a hospital, where he died.

While there was no direct evidence that the wood smoke from next door was responsible for David’s death, his son, Matthew Bolton, believes the stress of struggling to live with it worsened his father’s condition.

Researchers and lung health experts have linked wood smoke with lung diseases, including COPD.

Neighbor didn’t care, authorities didn’t help

Matthew says his father became very anxious leading into winter, knowing the smoke would return.

Noted Matthew:

Dad had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoke would really affect him. He tried to talk to the neighbour, but he suggested Dad fit his house with double glazed windows or just stay inside.

He got more and more frustrated dealing with the bureaucracy and going through the same process over and over again. In the end he believed that reporting the polluting wood heater was pointless as it appeared to have little influence or impact.

Canberra hides a dirty secret: Wood smoke pollution

Canberra is known as Australia’s Bush Capital. The city prides itself on being clean, green and well-planned.

But, like many communities around the world, it hides a dirty secret: wood smoke pollution.

Wood stoves are a major source of Canberra’s fine particle air pollution in winter months, even though it’s estimated that less than 5% of Canberra households heat primarily with wood (PDF).

The 2023 ACT State of the Environment Report found that wood stoves contribute up to 75% of the ACT’s PM_2.5 pollution during cooler months, and are responsible for the majority of breaches in air quality standards.

Deaths linked to wood heating

A study in the Medical Journal of Australia in 2023 found smoke from wood stoves is linked to dozens of avoidable deaths in the ACT each year. The number is comparable to that attributed to the extreme smoke of the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires.

Current policies insufficient to protect human health

In early 2023 the ACT Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, Dr. Sophie Lewis, released a report on the ACT Government’s wood heater policies and programs.

She found that current policies for managing wood heaters are insufficient to protect human health and the environment.

A long, slow wood heater phaseout

‍In response to the report, the ACT Minister for the Environment, Rebecca Vassarotti, announced wood heaters will be phased out in suburban Canberra by 2045.

Ms. Vassarotti said clean air is fundamental for a healthy environment, and said of wood stoves:

The smoke they emit is a direct source of pollution in our homes, a clear and present danger to the wellbeing of our community in urban and suburban areas, and a looming threat to our natural environment.

Many environmental health groups and clean air advocates have welcomed the plan for a phaseout, but some, including us, believe more urgent action is needed.

Former Asthma Australia CEO Michelle Goldman said:

Public opinion is clear and along with science and health impacts, it’s incumbent on governments to move quickly to take action, appreciating the complexity of the task. 2045 is a long time away and this transition could come sooner.

The powerful wood burning industry has responded with heavy spending on radio and newspaper advertisements in the Canberra media and launched a petition aimed at overturning the ACT Government’s decision to phase out wood heaters.

It’s expected the industry will attempt to make the phaseout of wood heaters in suburban Canberra an issue for ACT voters when they go to the polls in local elections this October. But Environment Minister Ms. Vassarotti has indicated the ACT Government is standing firm on its decision.

Too late to help Matthew’s dad

Meanwhile, Matthew Bolton has welcomed the phaseout of wood stoves in Canberra’s neighborhoods. He said his father was desperate to see change and, while it is good news, it has come too late for him.

Note: Clean Air Canberra contributed to this post.