The people of Australia have been asked for feedback on a proposed new strategy to ensure that the Country’s healthcare system can adapt to the effects of climate change.
The national strategy intends to put in place a plan of attack that will last for three years to assist Australia in getting ready for the health difficulties brought on by severe weather events, excessive temperatures, and poor air quality due to climate change.
Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney stated that the expertise of various individuals guided the production of the discussion paper, and the federal government was also interested in hearing from community members.
She stated that the World Health Organization has identified climate change as one of the most significant risk to public health in the 21st century.
“Climate change is posing a range of threats to our health and wellbeing, from more frequent extreme weather events to changes in disease profiles as well as insecurities regarding our access to food and water.”
Jenny McAllister, the assistant minister for climate change, stated that the Country needed to grasp the changes that will come about due to global warming and plan for them. This includes preparing for the potential impacts on health.
The goal of the strategy will be to identify priority areas for action to cut carbon emissions in the healthcare and senior care industries.
In addition, it will determine how the effects of climate change can be mitigated so that Australians can continue to have access to high-quality medical care.
The consultation period will end on July 24, and responses can be made either through an online survey or by submitting them in writing.
There is a strong connection between how well we care for ourselves and how well our planet does. Our environment supplies us with essential resources such as clean air and water and high-quality and abundant food, fibre, and aesthetically pleasing spaces. A healthy environment protects us from things like severe temperatures, droughts, storms, and flooding, all of which are expected to become more common due to climate change.
The natural world has a positive effect on our bodies as well as our minds. Recreational opportunities that are beneficial to human health and wellness and those that are enjoyable can be found in areas with access to the ocean, river systems, bushland, and woods. This is of utmost significance for our Aboriginal people since maintaining a link to the Country is essential to preserving Aboriginal culture and heritage.
Already, the effects of climate change are having repercussions on human health.
The impact of climate change can potentially exacerbate the symptoms of various health disorders, including but not limited to heart disease, asthma and other lung conditions, and mental health.
Climate change can cause weather events to become more frequent and intense, leading to increased hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and even fatalities. These disasters may also disrupt the supply of energy and transportation, and communication networks, which will, in turn, affect our capacity to meet increased demand for medical services.
The healthcare systems in New South Wales are actively trying to increase their resilience and sustainability by addressing climate risk and consequences to service delivery and decreasing their overall carbon footprint.
The New South Wales government is managing a significant research effort in conjunction with the University of Sydney to improve our comprehension of the effects of climate change on human health and our ability to prepare for those effects.
Through the NSW Human Health as well as Social Impacts Node, the New South Wales Government supports research in this field. Research on the relationship between urban design, the built environment, and physical and mental health is being conducted through a partnership between the University of Sydney, the New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment, and NSW Health.
Green spaces in our urban areas help minimize the effects of climate change, enhance environmental conditions such as air and water quality, and reduce the impact of heat. The state government of New South Wales is contributing to strengthening open spaces in the state.
