6 – Climate and health

Icon shows the globe and a thermometer beside it

The close and delicate relationship between people and planet has been highlighted by the pandemic and previous disease outbreaks. A true economic and social recovery from the pandemic will be one that addresses climate change.

Climate change directly damages our health. These include:

  • harm from heat
  • air pollution
  • unsafe drinking water
  • loss of food security
  • loss of shelter
  • an increase in vector of disease propagation

The impacts of global warming are already visible. Australia is enduring increasing catastrophic climate related events of heat waves, droughts, floods and the most recently the 2019-2020 bushfires.

Australia’s rainfall variability will increase (longer dry spells and heavier rain events), threatening water supplies and agriculture.

PHAA President, Adjunct Professor Tarun Weeramanthri, says Australia has much to lose by not taking rapid, sustained action to cut our emissions.
David Templeman (PHAA President 2016-2020), on two silent killers exacerbated by climate change – air quality and heat stroke.

Australia needs a suite of measures to curb emissions and adapt to higher temperatures in ways that protect and promote health.

ACTIONS

  • Develop, implement and enforce an integrated and comprehensive suite of policies to mitigate and adapt to climate change in ways that protect and promote health
  • Drive the transition from a fossil fuel-based economy through the development of renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy demand reduction

Download our election campaign brochure.

PHAA 2022 election campaign brochure

Brochure – with photos (3.9MB)

Brochure – text only (836 KB)

#ClimateChange has well-documented & increasing negative effects on human & planetary health. Australia must urgently enact strong policies to mitigate & adapt to climate change, to protect & promote health.… Click To Tweet
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