Extract from The Guardian
While some states have begun developing climate and health policies, 65% said they were not aware of any such policies
Australian health professionals overwhelmingly say they don’t know of
any policies that deal with the health implications of climate change,
despite the World Health Organisation saying “climate change is the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century”.
The results come from the first national snapshot of the knowledge and views of doctors, nurses, health academics and other health professionals on the topic of climate and health.
They were collected by the Climate and Health Alliance, as the group prepares to present its national strategy on climate, health and wellbeing discussion paper to politicians in Canberra this month.
Liz Hanna, the president of the Climate and Health Alliance, said the strategy was supported by groups representing most of the health industry and represented the most important move in the climate and health space in Australia to date.
When the analysis of the survey results was performed, 134 health professionals or representatives of health organisations had completed the survey.
The group was highly aware of climate and health-related issues, with every respondent able to identify at least five of eight major health risks that climate change will bring, including food insecurity, increases in infectious diseases and mental health issues.
Despite that, 45% of respondents said they were not aware of the only national climate change adaptation strategy that deals with health – the National Resilience and Adaptation Strategy. Just 7% said they were “fully aware” of the strategy.
While some states have begun developing climate and health policies, 65% of respondents said they were not aware of any such policies.
“Overwhelmingly, the seemingly well-informed group could not identify many policies at national or state levels specifically targeting the health effects of climate change,” the report said.
Hanna said the lack of awareness was a result of the policies being very minimal. She said the health policies in the National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy were mostly useless. “They’re motherhood statements, rather than anything that has any capacity to make a difference,” Hanna said.
Ninety-eight per cent of the respondents said they supported the development of a National Strategy for Climate, Health and Wellbeing.
Comments in the survey would be used by the Climate and Health Alliance to inform later iterations of the strategy, Hanna said.
Hanna said that, among wealthy countries, Australia was particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change since it had such variable rainfall and was already very hot.
As temperatures rise, the health implications are going to force change in almost every sector, she said.
“In cold countries, landlords and people who manage public housing are required by law to have adequate heating,” Hanna said. “We’re going to get to that point but with cooling.
“It will have to permeate all the way through to cricket clubs, who have members playing out in the sun during the day.”
When the group goes to Canberra this month to present the strategy, it will be joined by representatives from medical colleges, hospital networks and alliances and associations of other health professionals.
“What we’re doing as a health sector is letting the politicians know that there are lots of things that need to be done and we’re here to help,” Hanna said.
The results come from the first national snapshot of the knowledge and views of doctors, nurses, health academics and other health professionals on the topic of climate and health.
They were collected by the Climate and Health Alliance, as the group prepares to present its national strategy on climate, health and wellbeing discussion paper to politicians in Canberra this month.
Liz Hanna, the president of the Climate and Health Alliance, said the strategy was supported by groups representing most of the health industry and represented the most important move in the climate and health space in Australia to date.
When the analysis of the survey results was performed, 134 health professionals or representatives of health organisations had completed the survey.
The group was highly aware of climate and health-related issues, with every respondent able to identify at least five of eight major health risks that climate change will bring, including food insecurity, increases in infectious diseases and mental health issues.
Despite that, 45% of respondents said they were not aware of the only national climate change adaptation strategy that deals with health – the National Resilience and Adaptation Strategy. Just 7% said they were “fully aware” of the strategy.
While some states have begun developing climate and health policies, 65% of respondents said they were not aware of any such policies.
“Overwhelmingly, the seemingly well-informed group could not identify many policies at national or state levels specifically targeting the health effects of climate change,” the report said.
Hanna said the lack of awareness was a result of the policies being very minimal. She said the health policies in the National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy were mostly useless. “They’re motherhood statements, rather than anything that has any capacity to make a difference,” Hanna said.
Ninety-eight per cent of the respondents said they supported the development of a National Strategy for Climate, Health and Wellbeing.
Comments in the survey would be used by the Climate and Health Alliance to inform later iterations of the strategy, Hanna said.
Hanna said that, among wealthy countries, Australia was particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change since it had such variable rainfall and was already very hot.
As temperatures rise, the health implications are going to force change in almost every sector, she said.
“In cold countries, landlords and people who manage public housing are required by law to have adequate heating,” Hanna said. “We’re going to get to that point but with cooling.
“It will have to permeate all the way through to cricket clubs, who have members playing out in the sun during the day.”
When the group goes to Canberra this month to present the strategy, it will be joined by representatives from medical colleges, hospital networks and alliances and associations of other health professionals.
“What we’re doing as a health sector is letting the politicians know that there are lots of things that need to be done and we’re here to help,” Hanna said.
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