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Sustainability in healthcare: 2013 Think Tank coming up

by CAHA
July 11th, 2013

Greening the healthcare sector: Policy Think Tank

The annual CAHA – AHHA think tank on sustainability on the health care sector is coming up – this time it’s in Melbourne on 30th August 2013.

Join us to hear about what’s happening in this dynamic space, share your experiences, and to be part of driving change towards healthier greener healthcare in Australia.

This exciting event will feature international speaker Dr Blair Sadler from the University of California and the successful Healthier Hospitals Initiative as well as local and interstate sustainable healthcare professionals sharing their experiences. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear about the innovative new communications platform that’s connecting people working on greening the health sector initiatives worldwide!

Check out the Program here and Register to attend here.

Categories Uncategorized
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Spreading the word

by CAHA
June 7th, 2013

CAHA has been out and about talking to students, health professional and the community about climate change.

Check out some of these presentations here:

The Art and Science of Policy Advocacy – Latrobe University May 2013

The Implications of Climate Change for Women – Australian Women’s Health Conference 2013

 

 

Categories Advocacy, Children, Climate, Emissions, Energy, Health, Health policy, Health professionals, Public policy, Sustainability, Well-being
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Climate and health ‘Clinic’ at SLF 2013

by CAHA
April 15th, 2013

A big shout out to the wonderful health promotion practitioners and students who participated in the Climate and Health Alliance’s initiative at the Melbourne Sustainable Living Festival for the second year in 2013.

Here, volunteer Sally talks about what they got up to and what the Climate and Health Clinic is about.

Categories Advocacy, Allied health, Behaviour change, Climate, Emissions, Energy, Health, Health professionals, Healthy, Heat, Heatwaves, Nursing, Public health, Sustainability, Well-being, Wellness
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Lives increasingly at risk from ‘angry climate’

by CAHA
March 4th, 2013

Australian’s lives are increasingly at risk from extreme weather being driven by climate change, the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) has warned.

CAHA has responded to a new report from the Climate Commission, The Angry Summer, which shows the recent summer was the hottest ever, during which Australia recorded its first ever average maximum of 40.30°C, on 7 January 2013.

Heatwaves pose the most serious threat to health, but lives were also lost in recent bushfires and flooding following extreme rainfall.

The report shows the world is moving into a ‘new climate’, the consequences for which could be devastating for all people everywhere and for the natural systems on which we rely.

Read more here.

Categories Climate, Emissions, Extreme weather, Health, Heat, Heatwaves, Public policy, survival, Sustainability, Well-being
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Climate and health at Melbourne Sustainable Living Festival 2013

by CAHA
February 28th, 2013

Climate and health at the Sustainable Living Festival 2013

The Climate and Health Alliance hosted three very successful events at this year’s Sustainable Living Festival in Melbourne – a Climate and Health Clinic; The Heat is On – a forum on climate change, health and extreme heat; and Our Uncashed Dividend – a session on the health benefits of climate action.

Professor David Karoly, Fiona Armstrong, Dr Liz Hanna and Dr Tony Bartone. By shotbykatie.

A full report, more photos and a blog featuring some of our marvellous volunteers coming soon!

 

 

Categories Advocacy, Climate, Extreme weather, Health, Health professionals, Heat, Heatwaves, Sustainability
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Energy policy like ‘profiting from slavery’

by CAHA
February 20th, 2013

This article was first published on ABC Environment Online on 19th February 2013.

Anyone holding onto the quaint notion that our elected representative govern in the interests of the community will see how false that is when they look at energy policy in Australia, writes Fiona Armstrong.

Australia is currently in the middle of a coal rush. Coupled with the exploration of coal seam gas expanding at a rapid rate across Queensland and New South Wales, this looks (on paper) to be one of the country’s biggest and most rapid industry expansions in our short history.

Australia is currently the world’s largest exporter of metallurgical coal and ranks sixth in exports of thermal coal. In 2012, we sold around $60 billion worth of coal, mostly to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Looking to the future, Australia’s national energy policy, theEnergy White Paper, anticipates strong demand from these nations for Australian coal and prioritises coal production as a core element of energy for the coming decades.

Around 30 new coal mines and coal mine expansions are planned for New South Wales and Queensland, and if they proceed would more than double Australia’s current coal exports of more than 300 million tonnes per annum.

Much of the current expansion of coal is predicated on rising demand from China, and India; a stable global economic environment; and industry denial about climate science.

These assumptions have shaky foundations and investors should heed the clear warning from risk experts of the imminent destruction of value of high-carbon investments and that climate change will continue to deliver systemic shocks to regional and global economies.

China is reportedly looking to cap energy production from coal and indicated that coal consumption will peak during the next five year plan. These announcements suggest the Australian coal industry’s expectation of an ongoing boom is inflated by wishful thinking.

Closer to home, research from the Australia Institute suggests the expansion of coal exports is adversely affecting the national economy – its growth occurs at the expense of other industries. It suggests cutting coal production would lead to a net economic benefit, with growth made possible in other sectors such as manufacturing, tourism and education.

And regardless of where it’s burnt, Australia’s coal represents a huge contribution to global emissions. Proposed coal exports would lead to an additional 700 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, and would place Australia (just the Galilee Basin in Qld alone) at a ranking of seventh largest contributor in the world to global CO2 emissions arising from the burning of fossil fuels. For a nation that likes to pretend we contribute only 1.5 per cent to global emissions, that’s quite a jump in our contribution.

What does it mean for our climate commitments? The International Energy Agency World Energy Outlook 2012 (pdf) was quite clear about the prospects for limiting damages and reversing climate change associated with global warming from burning fossil fuels. Quite simply, if the world wishes to limit warming to less than two degrees (a level that is considered the absolute maximum in order to prevent escalating and irreversible warming trends), we cannot even exploit existing fossil fuel reserves, much less liberate even more.

The expansion of coal and coal seam gas (given the high emissions signature of CSG from emissions during extraction) would completely negate many times over any gains that are made from emissions reductions achieved through Australia’s carbon price.

There is also serious harm to human health associated with the coal rush. The burning of coal for electricity is associated with the compromised health of thousands of people living in proximity to these plants. The mining and transportation of coal also carries serious health risks from coal dust and toxic pollutants released during extraction and rail transport to ports.

But who is looking out for the community in terms of protecting health and wellbeing? For those who still hold the quaint notion that elected parliamentary representatives might be interested in achieving the best outcomes for the community, it’s disappointing news.

State governments appear willing to approve projects despite serious community opposition because of the revenue they provide in mining royalties. Climate risk is severely underestimated in the Australian Government’s Energy White Paper, and Premiers Newman and O’Farrell also appear oblivious to the climate implications of their respective coal booms.

Even the health professionals have been missing in action, with communities such as those in Maules Creek in NSW and adjacent to a fourth coal export terminal in Newcastle forced to undertake or organise their own health impact assessments from proposed coal projects. Supported by volunteer groups such as Doctors for the Environment, community groups are researching health impacts, setting up air quality monitoring, and collecting baseline health data.

Last week however signaled a shift in the involvement of the health and medical community in Australia. Health leaders met at a national Roundtable in Canberra last week and resolved to engage more directly with energy policy in this country, to see that the local and global implications of the coal rush are highlighted in terms of the impact on health.

Speaking to the Roundtable of around 40 health care leaders, Professor Colin Butler from the School of Public Health at Canberra University said: “Australia’s reliance on the export of coal is no more justifiable than profiting from slavery or the supply of cocaine. Of course, energy is vital, including in Asia, but a clever country would develop energy technologies that can wean civilisation from its highly dangerous reliance on 19th century technology.”

A statement (pdf) from the Roundtable participants said: “The risks to human health from energy and resources policy are not being well accounted for in current policy decisions. Significant policy reform is needed to ensure health and wellbeing is not compromised by policy decisions in other sectors. Recognising the importance of the social and environmental determinants of health is an important part of that.”

Clearly, relying on the weight of evidence in relation to climate and human health is insufficient to lead to effective, safe, equitable policy. Many of us who participated in the meeting in Canberra last week believe civil society leaders such as health professionals and health sector executives have a responsibility to help develop policy in every sector that protects and promotes health. This involves getting a better understanding of health risks associated with energy and climate policy – and making sure the community is aware of these risks as they prepare to vote for a new national government. Because right now, energy policy is possibly our greatest threat to health on the planet.

Fiona Armstrong is the Convenor of the Climate and Health Alliance, which together with Public Health Association of Australia,Climate Change Adaptation Research Network – Human Health, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, and National Rural Health Alliance co-hosted the Health Implications of Energy Policy Roundtable and Workshop.

Categories Advocacy, Climate, Coal, Emissions, Energy, Health, Public health, survival, Sustainability
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Book your tickets to Melbourne!

by CAHA
February 4th, 2013

The Climate and Health Alliance is involved in THREE events at the 2013 Melbourne Sustainable Living Festival:


Climate and Health Clinic – all weekend Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th February

Roving ‘health promoters’ will help people develop their own individualised ‘prescriptions for a healthy life and a health planet’.

The clinic and ‘prescriptions’ provide opportunities for people to learn about sustainable lifestyles are healthy lifestyles and how cutting emissions can improve health. Some strategies people can choose for their own prescription include: walking, cycling or using public transport; switching to clean renewable energy e.g. installing solar panels; adopting a plant based diet; or spending time with nature e.g. bushwalking, or getting involved in community gardening or tree planting projects.

To volunteer, contact Volunteer Coordinator Bronwyn Wauchope [email protected] or Fiona Armstrong [email protected].

 

The Heat is On – Climate change, extreme heat and human health – a panel discussion: 3PM-4PM Sat 16th Feb in The Greenhouse @ Birrarung Marr

Featuring CAHA President Dr Liz Hanna; CAHA scientific advisor Professor David Karoly; and Victorian AMA Vice President Dr Tony Bartone on the impact of climate change on extreme weather including heatwaves; how heatwaves affect people’s health; and what we can do about it.

 

Our Uncashed Dividend – 11am-12pm Sunday 17th Feb in Under the Gum talk tent

Come and hear the good news about climate action – how strategies to reduce emissions can improve your own and the community’s health, not to mention save money.

Our transition to low-carbon living provides the opportunity to create healthier, happier communities and could save billions of dollars for health budgets by avoiding much ill health and lost productivity.

The report Our Uncashed Dividend: The Health Benefits of Climate Action, produced by the Climate and Health Alliance and The Climate Institute, spells out the evidence.

Come and hear from report author Fiona Armstrong and contributor Corey Watts about our nation’s ‘Uncashed Dividend’.

 

 

Categories Advocacy, Climate, Emissions, Extreme weather, Health, Heat, Heatwaves, Sustainability, Transformation, Uncategorized, Well-being
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Extreme heat: Australia’s record breaking heatwave

by CAHA
February 4th, 2013

Australians have been sweltering this summer as extreme heat conditions are felt across many parts of the country.

Health groups are urging people to take care in the heat, observe heat and fire warnings and to seek medical advice if they feel unwell.

There is heat health advice available from each of the state and territory healthy departments (Victoria; NSW; Qld; SA;  WA; NT; Tas; and ACT) as well as local healthcare providers to help reduce exposure and risks to health.

The Climate Commission has developed a new resource on extreme heat Off the Charts: Extreme Australian Summer Heat highlighting the links between climate change and extreme heat events, urging appropriate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to put measures in place to prepare for, and respond to, extreme weather.

Download the report here.

Categories Advocacy, Children, Climate, Extreme weather, Health, Heat, Heatwaves, Public health
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Have you signed the DOHA Declaration on Climate, Health and Well-being?

by CAHA
February 4th, 2013

Health Must Be Central to Climate Action

The international health and medical community have developed a joint statement on climate health and wellbeing calling for health to be central to national and global climate action.

Signatories include the World Medical Association, the International Council of Nurses, International Federation of Medical Students, Health Care Without Harm, Climate and Health Alliance, European Public Health Association, Public Health Association of Australia, Royal College of General Practitioners (UK), Climate and Health Council, OraTaiao: The New Zealand Climate & Health Council, NHS Sustainable Development Unit, Umeå Center for Global Health Research, Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) and many others.

The Doha Declaration outlines why health experts are extremely worried about slow progress on climate action, and highlights how the health co-benefits of emissions can build support for ambitious climate strategies.

If you want to support this statement, sign up here: www.dohadeclaration.weebly.com

Categories Advocacy, Climate, Emissions, Energy, Health professionals, Uncategorized
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Protecting children from climate change

by CAHA
January 8th, 2013

The Climate and Health Alliance is particularly concerned about the health and well-being of children in relation to climate change. Children are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change and suffer around 90% of the disease burden from climate change.

As part of its advocacy efforts, along with child health researchers and child advocates  the Climate and Health Alliance has written a letter to child advocates and research institutions, asking that they include climate change as an urgent priority area for child advocacy, research, policy and practice.

The letter, co-signed by leading children and health researchers and advocates, sent to all Children’s Commissioners, child health research centres and advocacy groups in October 2012, states:

“We are only beginning to understand the impacts that climate change will have on children’s development, health and mental health. In addition to a greater emphasis on mitigation, more research at the regional and local levels is desperately needed so that we can adequately understand, prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Because climate change poses such a significant threat to our children and future generations we believe that child advocate and research institutions have a responsibility to have it as a priority area for advocacy, research, policy and practice. We have attached a list of ideas for inclusion in a research, policy and practice agenda.  

We also believe that, in order to reduce harm to children and future generations, child advocate and research institutions should have a policy to reduce their organisation’s carbon footprint (e.g., by switching to Green power, purchasing carbon offsets for air travel, and monitoring the carbon footprint of suppliers).

As concerned scientists and child advocates we should also publicly call for effective climate change mitigation strategies at the local, national and international levels to help limit the threat to the development, health and mental health of our children and future generations. Strategies to reduce emissions would have the added public health benefit of decreasing the incidence and severity of many chronic and avoidable diseases associated with our high-carbon lifestyle.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.

Responses received by January 2013:

  • Commissioner for Children and Young People WA
  • Children & Young People Commissioner ACT 

 

Categories Advocacy, Children, Climate, Ethics, Health, Research, Sustainability, Well-being
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