Why Australia Needs a National Strategy Addressing the Health Effects of Climate Change
The Growing Health Impacts of Climate Change
Climate change is already affecting Australians’ health. The country is approximately 1.5°C warmer than it was 100 years ago, and this trend is expected to continue. As temperatures rise, Australians will face harsher heatwaves, more severe storms, and increased intensity of cyclones in the far north, leading to floods, destruction, and loss of life. These extreme weather events pose a substantial threat to public health, yet Australia’s national health policies have largely ignored the climate crisis.
Policy Gaps in Addressing Climate-Related Health Risks
Despite its vision of “better health and wellbeing for all Australians, now and for future generations,” Australia’s federal health department does not adequately address climate change in its policies. Climate change, identified by the World Health Organization as one of the world’s greatest health risks, does not feature prominently in Australia’s Long Term National Health Plan or the Corporate Plan. Similarly, the A$5 billion investment plan for the Medical Research Future Fund fails to mention climate change at all.
Why the Silence?
At the national level, there seems to be an unwillingness to confront the damage climate change is already doing to Australians’ health. Without significant changes, these impacts will only worsen. The Grattan Institute’s recent report offers several strategies to help the health sector adapt to the changing climate in Australia.
Lessons from the Pandemic
Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic provides a model for how to approach climate change. The national response was led by a cabinet informed by expert advisers from the national and state levels, with the guidance of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC). Australia’s leaders listened to science and made unprecedented decisions to protect public health. A similar approach is needed to address climate change. The government should establish a “climate change and health” subcommittee of the AHPPC to focus on climate adaptation and mitigation, ensuring coordinated action and research.
Time for National Action
More must be done at the national level to address the health risks posed by climate change. The Commonwealth Department of Health must make climate change a priority, incorporating it into its Long Term National Health Plan and the National Preventive Health Strategy. Governments should mandate that the health sector include climate change in risk assessments and disaster planning through the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
Australia’s unique climate poses various health challenges, and research institutions need better support to pursue climate-health knowledge. Between 2013 and 2020, less than A$2 million of the A$6.3 billion allocated by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) went towards climate and health research. Although the NHMRC recently announced A$10 million in dedicated funding for climate and health research, more significant investments are needed to properly understand and respond to climate change.
Conclusion
In the coming years, Australia’s climate will become increasingly dangerous. By acting now, with strong leadership and evidence-based decision-making similar to its approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia can mitigate the health impacts of climate change. Establishing a coordinated national approach and supporting research initiatives are vital steps towards a healthier and more resilient future.
Important Points
- Climate change is already having significant health impacts in Australia, and these effects will intensify without coordinated action.
- National health policies in Australia do not currently prioritize climate change, despite the growing risks.
- The federal health department and related bodies must include climate change as a core element of their plans and strategies.
- Lessons from Australia’s response to COVID-19 should guide the country’s approach to climate change, with expert-led decision-making and national coordination.
- Research into the health impacts of climate change needs increased funding and institutional support.
