World-first climate and health framework from 30 health and medical groups calls for recognition of citizens’ ‘right to health’
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| ‘We are conducting a planetary-scale experiment with uncontrolled dumping of CO2 at a rate that is truly frightening. We have to stop,’ Nobel laureate Peter Doherty says. Photograph: Steve Marcus/Reuters |
To save hundreds of lives and billions of dollars, Australia should
rapidly phase out coal power stations and establish strong emissions
reduction targets, according to a coalition of 30 major health and
medical groups.
A world-first National Climate and Health Strategy framework launched after 12 months of consultation and development by the Public Health Association of Australia, the Royal Australian College of General Practice and the Australian College of Nursing, today launched their framework, which they say is needed to avert a health emergency which threatens to undermine 50 years of gains in development and health.
Many of the policy recommendations made by the coalition are “win-win”, which both reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as reducing the social and economic costs of sickness.
Fiona Armstrong, the executive director of the Climate and Health Alliance, said the framework provides a comprehensive roadmap for achieving Australia’s obligation under the Paris Agreement to recognise its citizens’ “right to health”.
Peter Doherty, Nobel laureate for medicine and campaign ambassador for Our Climate Health said: “We are currently conducting a planetary-scale experiment with uncontrolled dumping of CO2 at a rate that is truly frightening. No university ethics committee would ever sanction such a study for mice, let alone humans. We have to stop.”
He told Guardian Australia he thought awareness of the health impacts of climate change needed to be embedded into all other policy areas – from building design to transport infrastructure and health funding.
There were already many health-related costs of climate change being seen in Australia, the framework document points out. For example, heatwaves in 2009 and 2014 contributed to hundreds of deaths in Victoria and projections suggest the figure will rise to several thousand additional deaths from heatwaves by 2050.
It also points out the use of coal is contributing to 4,000 deaths each year, mostly by exacerbating existing chronic cardiac and respiratory illnesses.
There is also already an economic burden, with extreme heat costing the Australian economy $8bn each year through reduced productivity, and the health effects of bushfires often costing billions.
The policy framework has seven key areas, and more than 50 recommendations, which require a coordinated national approach, involving the commonwealth government.
Among those recommendations are 26 relating to emissions-reduction policies that would also improve the health of the community. Among those, the coalition calls for a “rapid” transition away from coal power and fossil fuels “with appropriate support for affected workers and communities to ensure a just transition.” It also calls for the removal of subsidies for fossil fuels and for investment in zero-emissions transport infrastructure such as trains and bicycle paths.
Other policy areas the framework deals with include emergency and disaster-preparedness, building a climate-resilient healthcare sector and research and data.
Efforts in other countries to address climate and health surpassed that made in Australia, the framework document notes.
In the US, the Centre for Disease Control outlines 11 different policy actions for climate change and promotes research into climate change and health, as well s preparedness.
The EU has guidance for member states on protecting their communities from the impacts of climate change and the UK has mitigation and adaptation policies for the health sector.
Nick Watts, executive director at Lancet Countdown, a major international project that aims to measure and track countries’ progress on climate and health, said if adopted, the framework would make Australia a leader in the area. “The implementation of a national strategy on climate change and health could put Australia in a leadership position globally and go a long way to ensuring the protection of community health and well-being while reducing carbon emissions.”
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A world-first National Climate and Health Strategy framework launched after 12 months of consultation and development by the Public Health Association of Australia, the Royal Australian College of General Practice and the Australian College of Nursing, today launched their framework, which they say is needed to avert a health emergency which threatens to undermine 50 years of gains in development and health.
Many of the policy recommendations made by the coalition are “win-win”, which both reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as reducing the social and economic costs of sickness.
Fiona Armstrong, the executive director of the Climate and Health Alliance, said the framework provides a comprehensive roadmap for achieving Australia’s obligation under the Paris Agreement to recognise its citizens’ “right to health”.
Peter Doherty, Nobel laureate for medicine and campaign ambassador for Our Climate Health said: “We are currently conducting a planetary-scale experiment with uncontrolled dumping of CO2 at a rate that is truly frightening. No university ethics committee would ever sanction such a study for mice, let alone humans. We have to stop.”
He told Guardian Australia he thought awareness of the health impacts of climate change needed to be embedded into all other policy areas – from building design to transport infrastructure and health funding.
There were already many health-related costs of climate change being seen in Australia, the framework document points out. For example, heatwaves in 2009 and 2014 contributed to hundreds of deaths in Victoria and projections suggest the figure will rise to several thousand additional deaths from heatwaves by 2050.
It also points out the use of coal is contributing to 4,000 deaths each year, mostly by exacerbating existing chronic cardiac and respiratory illnesses.
There is also already an economic burden, with extreme heat costing the Australian economy $8bn each year through reduced productivity, and the health effects of bushfires often costing billions.
The policy framework has seven key areas, and more than 50 recommendations, which require a coordinated national approach, involving the commonwealth government.
Among those recommendations are 26 relating to emissions-reduction policies that would also improve the health of the community. Among those, the coalition calls for a “rapid” transition away from coal power and fossil fuels “with appropriate support for affected workers and communities to ensure a just transition.” It also calls for the removal of subsidies for fossil fuels and for investment in zero-emissions transport infrastructure such as trains and bicycle paths.
Other policy areas the framework deals with include emergency and disaster-preparedness, building a climate-resilient healthcare sector and research and data.
Efforts in other countries to address climate and health surpassed that made in Australia, the framework document notes.
In the US, the Centre for Disease Control outlines 11 different policy actions for climate change and promotes research into climate change and health, as well s preparedness.
The EU has guidance for member states on protecting their communities from the impacts of climate change and the UK has mitigation and adaptation policies for the health sector.
Nick Watts, executive director at Lancet Countdown, a major international project that aims to measure and track countries’ progress on climate and health, said if adopted, the framework would make Australia a leader in the area. “The implementation of a national strategy on climate change and health could put Australia in a leadership position globally and go a long way to ensuring the protection of community health and well-being while reducing carbon emissions.”
Links
- Australia warned it has radically underestimated climate change security threat
- Ten years ago Turnbull called out Peter Garrett on climate. What went wrong?
- Pittsburgh and Paris join over 200 cities and states rejecting Trump on climate
- Renewable energy spike led to sharp drop in emissions in Australia, study shows
- 'Clean coal', CCS and CSG will not save fossil fuels – their game is up
- German coalition agrees to cut carbon emissions up to 95% by 2050
- World Bank says Paris climate goals at risk from new coal schemes
- Business and academic leaders urge new conversation about coal-free future
- US clean power plan setback 'will not affect Paris climate change deal'
- India says Paris climate deal won't affect plans to double coal output
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