Q&A: What health issues are linked to climate change in Australia, and which populations are most vulnerable? - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points

Extreme heat, bushfires, and floods are now the leading climate-linked threats to health. [1] Respiratory problems and heart disease spikes have been recorded after major climate disasters. [3] Climate change spreads mosquito-borne and exotic diseases into new areas. [9] Young people, elderly, Indigenous Australians, those in poverty or with chronic conditions are most at risk. [5] Urgent action is needed to modernise healthcare, adapt communities, and reduce emissions. [2]

Australia faces a growing public health crisis as climate change intensifies heatwaves, worsens air quality, spreads new diseases, and leaves increasing numbers of people shaken by disaster and stress.

Rising temperatures and extreme weather events are already leading to more heat-related and respiratory illnesses, with lasting consequences for mental health.​

The most at-risk groups include older adults, children, Indigenous Australians, low-income households, and those with pre-existing medical conditions.​

Case studies since 2020 reveal sharp increases in hospital visits during heatwaves and bushfires, and scientific data show urgent adaptation and healthcare reforms are needed.​

Tackling these health risks demands rapid action across all sectors to build resilience, support vulnerable communities, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.​

Extreme Heat and Heat-related Illnesses

Australia has warmed by over 1.5°C since 1910, with heatwaves becoming longer, more frequent, and more severe.^[4]

Heat kills more Australians than any other natural disaster, and at least 49,000 years of healthy life are lost annually to cardiovascular disease triggered by hot weather.^[6]

Recent modelling shows the number of deaths associated with heat-exacerbated heart disease could double or triple by 2050 if global warming trends persist.^[6]

Children, older adults, outdoor workers, and people with chronic medical issues face particular danger during heatwaves.^[5]

The “urban heat island” effect amplifies risk in major cities, where nights often fail to cool down and air pollution worsens.^[5]

Respiratory Conditions and Air Quality

Climate change drives more frequent and intense bushfires, producing smoke that chokes cities for weeks.^[3]

During the 2019–2020 “Black Summer” bushfires, an estimated 417 excess deaths and over 3,000 cardiovascular-related hospital admissions were linked to smoke exposure.^[3]

Asthma and hay fever attacks also spike, owing to increased pollen release during hotter, longer springs and bushfire smoke.^[7]

People with asthma, lung disease, heart conditions, and children are most susceptible.^[5]

Mental Health Impacts

Extreme heat and disasters take a mounting toll on Australians’ mental wellbeing.^[8]

Research finds nearly half of the mental and behavioural disorder burden by 2050 could stem from higher temperatures alone.^[8]

Young people are particularly vulnerable, especially those exposed to climate disasters or who already experience financial hardship.^[11]

Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety rise in disaster-hit areas, while many report a sense of climate-related distress and loss.^[12]

Vector-borne and Infectious Diseases

Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns allow disease-carrying mosquitoes and exotic viruses to thrive further south and for longer periods.^[9]

Recent outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis, which caused several deaths in 2022, underline growing risks linked to changing bird migration and mosquito ranges.^[9]

Experts warn other diseases, such as those spread by bats or other insects, may follow as climate disruptions intensify.^[9]

Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Populations

Older adults, children, people with disabilities, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and those living in poverty or rural and remote areas are at the highest risk.^[5]

Communities with fewer resources, such as limited cooling, inadequate housing, or less access to medical care, often suffer far greater health impacts during and after disasters.^[10]

References

1. Review Health risks of climate change in Australia
2. National Health and Climate Strategy
3. Climate change, environmental extremes, and human health in Australia
4. Australia's changing climate
5. Climate impacts on our health and wellbeing | AdaptNSW
6. Extreme heat increases heart disease burden | Newsroom
7. Airborne pollen and respiratory allergies: Case Study
8. Extreme heat poses threat to mental health | Newsroom
9. Threat of exotic vector-borne diseases worsening with climate change, scientists say
10. Climate Change Resilience (ACOSS)
11. 6 in 10 young Aussies worry about climate change
12. Climate Trauma: Report on Mental Health Impacts

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