National Health and Climate Strategy Climate change is already affecting the health
The Government has consulted extensively in
of wellbeing of people across Australia. The
developing the Strategy, including with health
environmental and human systems which are
service providers, aged care providers, peak
so important to maintaining good health are
bodies, academia and industry. Consultation
increasingly being disrupted by extreme weather
with First Nations leaders and community
events, the spread of climate-related infectious
representatives has been a particular priority.
disease and climate-related food and water insecurity. Responding to these growing health threats,
The Strategy will establish a three-year plan focussed on action to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the health system,
the Australian Government is working to produce
identify responses to the health impacts of a
Australia’s first. The Strategy will establish a plan
changing climate, and engage with other sectors
of action to build a sustainable, high quality, net
on mitigation and adaptation policies that have
zero health system, strengthen the health system
implications for human health and wellbeing. the
to protect the health and wellbeing of people in
Strategy will aim to build on the work already
Australia from the impacts of climate change and
underway across many portfolios, and to work to
mobilise whole-of-government climate action for
establish realistic and meaningful targets to reduce
healthy and resilient communities.
health sector emissions. The Strategy is anticipated for release by the end of 2023. ha
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The Health Advocate • NOVEMBER 2023
Andrew Small
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND AGED CARE
