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Archive for Advocacy

Greening the Healthcare Sector Think Tank 14th Oct 2014

by CAHA
September 15th, 2014

Hosted by Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) and Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) in partnership with Global Green and Healthy Hospitals

Event Title: ‘The Health Sector as a Leader in Low Carbon Transformation’

When:  Tuesday 14th October 2014

Where: Mater Hospital, South Brisbane

Featuring case studies and experts on the following themes:

  • Building healthy and sustainable healthcare infrastructure
  • Waste not – the transformation of disposal in healthcare
  • Engaging others – making sustainability everyone’s business
  • Building a  national and global community for healthy, sustainable healthcare

Opportunities to improve environmental sustainability in the healthcare sector are rapidly expanding. There are increasingly substantive economic drivers supporting a growing cohort of health and sustainability professionals in implementing strategies in their organisations for cutting carbon, reducing waste, minimising chemicals, and greening the supply chain.

The Greening the Healthcare Sector Think Tank provides an opportunity for those working in the sector to hear first hand case studies of change, talk to experts, hear about opportunities for collaboration, and contribute to a discussion about how we can work together to accelerate progress within the health sector towards sustainable healthcare and hospital practices.

This Think Tank will allow participants to hear from industry leaders and professionals and engage in discussions about strategies to improve environmental sustainability and population health while reducing pressure on health sector budgets. Building green healthcare facilities, engaging staff for institution-wide change, reducing waste and saving money will be some of the topics covered in this dynamic and interactive event.

The Think Tank will be facilitated by leading sustainability educator and consultant Ian McBurney, and will feature snap shot presentations from professionals, followed by engaging and interactive discussions.

Beamed in live from Washington state will be Nick Thorp, Global Community Manager of the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals network. Hear about this rapidly expanding network and the innovative platform that is enabling health and sustainability professionals to connect with one another around the world.

If you are looking for tools and resources to support sustainability initiatives and want to know how to succeed through collaboration with others – look no further!

Download the program here. Register now! Click on this link to register.

 

Categories Advocacy, Carbon, Climate, Emissions, Energy, Energy policy, Health, Health professionals, healthcare, Healthy, Hospitals, Mitigate, Sustainability, Sustainable, Uncategorized, Waste, Well-being
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CAHA and Climate Council Joint Statement on Coal and Health

by CAHA
September 3rd, 2014

Joint Statement on the Health Effects of Coal in Australia

The Climate and Health Alliance and the Climate Council have released a Joint Statement on the Health Effects of Coal in Australia in response to the Inquiry report from Hazelwood coal mine fire in Victoria, saying:

“Australia’s heavy reliance on coal for electricity generation and massive coal industry expansion present significant risks to the health of communities, families and individuals.”

The Joint Statement calls for: health risks to be considered in all energy policy and investment decisions;  independent air, water and soil quality monitoring at and around every coal mine and power station in Australia; and funding for research into health, social and environmental impacts of coal.

The Joint Statement is accompanied by a Briefing Paper on Health Effects of Coal in Australia which outlines the scientific health and medical literature on the impacts on health from the production of coal.

The Joint Statement is signed by Professor Fiona Stanley, Professor Tim Flannery from the Climate Council and Dr Liz Hanna, President of Climate and Health Alliance on behalf of CAHA’s 27 member organisations.

The Joint Statement reads:

“We, the undersigned, accept the clear evidence that:

1. coal mining and burning coal for electricity emits toxic and carcinogenic substances into our air, water and land;
2. coal pollution is linked to the development of potentially fatal diseases and studies show severe health impacts on miners, workers and local communities;
3. Australia’s heavy reliance on coal for electricity generation and massive coal industry expansion present significant risks to the health of communities, families and individuals; and
4. emissions from coal mine fires, like the recent Hazelwood mine fire in Victoria, and the release of heavy metal and organic compounds, pose health risks for surrounding populations, such as respiratory and heart disease, cancers and other health conditions.

“We believe that Federal and State governments must urgently research and account for these risks to human health starting with consistent air, water and soil quality monitoring at and around every coal mine and power station in Australia.

“We are calling on governments and industry to acknowledge the significant human health risks associated with the whole lifecycle of coal production – mining, transportation, combustion and the disposal of waste – and to urgently fund research and account for these risks in policy, planning and investment decisions in Australia.

“While we recognise the role coal played in the industrial revolution – as an important energy source helping advance economies
and improve livelihoods – studies now show that every phase of coal’s lifecycle presents major human health risks and contributes to ecological degradation, loss of biodiversity and climate change.

“In addition to the release of greenhouse gases, which are the primary cause of climate change, coal mining and electricity generation emit known toxic and carcinogenic substances into our air, water and land. These emissions include mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, nitrogen oxides and inhalable airborne particulates.

“Authoritative studies in Europe and the United States show severe health impacts from coal emissions on miners, workers and local communities. These studies link coal pollution to the development of potentially fatal diseases, resulting in thousands of premature deaths and costing national economies tens to hundreds of billions of dollars every year. In the United States, the Physicians for Social Responsibility found that coal contributes to four of the five leading causes of mortality: heart disease, cancer, stroke and chronic respiratory diseases.

Health risks are not limited to mining and combustion. Emissions from coal mine fires are linked to lung cancer, bronchitis, heart disease and other health conditions. At home, despite Australia’s heavy reliance on coal for electricity generation – it provides 75% of our electricity supply – research and monitoring of the resulting health effects is limited. Most research has been conducted overseas, whereas in Australia – one of the world’s leading producers, consumers and exporters of coal – the burden of disease remains under investigated.

Furthermore, the disease burden will escalate as the massive coal industry expansion underway in Australia presents additional risk to human health in Australia and overseas. The significant health costs associated with coal are not currently reflected in the price of coal-fired electricity in Australia. In 2009, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) estimated coal’s health impacts cost taxpayers $2.6 billion every year.

“A dire lack of monitoring and research in Australia is letting down coal mining communities.”

Recommendations:

1. Coal’s human health risks must be properly considered and accounted for in all energy and resources policy and investment decisions.
2. We also encourage the investment in education and training opportunities to support coal mining communities to transition away from fossil fuel industries towards new industries.
3. National standards for consistent air, water and soil quality monitoring at and around every coal mine and power station in Australia conducted by an independent body with no relationship to the coal industry.
4. Adequate funding allocated for research to evaluate the health, social and environmental impacts of coal in coal mining communities.

This joint statement is signed by Professor Tim Flannery, Professor Fiona Stanley, the Climate Council of Australia and the Climate and Health Alliance representing its 27 health organisations as members.

Professor Tim Flannery, Chief Councillor, The Climate Council of Australia

 

Professor Fiona Stanley, Distinguished Research Professor, School of Paediatrics and Child Health (SPACH), The University of Western Australia, a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne and the Patron of the Telethon Kids Institute.

 

 

 

Dr. Liz Hanna, President of the Climate and Health Alliance

 

Categories Advocacy, Children, Climate, Coal, Emissions, Energy, Energy policy, Health, Health policy, Public health
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Health sector urged to engage with social media to promote climate action

by CAHA
April 1st, 2014

What does the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report mean for health in Australia?

This post first appeared on the blog Croakey on 31 March 2014

A new report from the IPCC issues the world one of its most stark warnings on climate change to date. Leaked drafts suggest this report will be one of the IPCC’s most stark warnings yet issued on climate change, especially as it relates to human health.

Authors of the health chapter say the report chronicles serious impacts to human health and wellbeing already from climate change, and warn of our limited ability to adapt to rapidly increasing global temperatures.

What is the IPCC and what does it report on?

The IPCC is a scientific body under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) – 195 countries are members of the IPCC.

Every four years, the IPCC releases a series of assessment reports on the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change.  Four Assessment Reports (AR1, AR2, AR3 and AR4) and part 1 of the Fifth Report (WGI or AR5) have been released to date. The AR5 WGI report covered the physical science and was released in September 2013.

The second part (WGII) of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) will be released this week. This IPCC Second Working Group report (WGII) covers the evidence on the impacts of climate change on humans and other species, the vulnerability of human society and other species and ecosystems to climate change, and on the adaptation measures underway or needed to minimise adverse impacts.

The third working group report on mitigation (WGIII) will be released in Berlin in April 2014.

This second report from Working Group II is an important one for health.

What does the IPCC WGII report say about health?

The findings of note from WGII include that climate change is affecting everyone in every nation on every continent, right now. Australia is particularly vulnerable to impacts on food production.  The report highlights that people everywhere are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, especially extreme weather events which are now more frequent and more severe.

Despite long standing warning on the need for mitigation (curbing emissions) and adaptation (responding to minimise the impacts of climate change), levels of adaptation to global warming around the world remain low. Some efforts by defence organisations, the tourism industry and insurance companies lead the way, but much more must be done. Failing to do so will put health further at risk, as it means we are not acting to avoid some potentially preventable impacts, like coastal flooding, heat stress from heatwaves, and the spread of disease.

The report shows that failing to cut greenhouse gas emissions will lead to levels of warming that will make some parts of the world uninhabitable. However reducing emissions can cut the economic damage from climate change considerably. Further, the report shows that reducing emissions will bring many immediate and localised benefits to human health – the savings from which would substantially offset the costs of reducing emissions.

Health professionals are urged to act to raise awareness about the health risks from climate change and the health benefits of cutting emissions. Unless these issues are more widely understood, we risk failing to take actions that may ultimately determine whether or not we survive as a species, this profound, manmade, global threat to health.

What can you do?

You can help promote the issues raised in the IPCC report this week by joining a social media Thunderclap on climate and health. Follow the Climate and Health Alliance (Australia) on Twitter @healthy_climate) and our international group the Global Climate and Health Alliance on @GCHAlliance.

Like our respective Facebook pages https://www.facebook.com/climateandhealthalliance and https://www.facebook.com/climateandhealth

Have a look Climasphere for lots of resources about climate change and the IPCC report.

Later this week, you can check out a short film, share some infographics  and join a webinar on climate and health – look for details here: http://www.climateandhealthalliance.org/ipcc

Importantly however, please do as CAHA President Dr Liz Hanna urges in this press release:

“Act at a global level, a national level, at state and community level and as individuals. We must do all we can to cut emissions and urge others to do so if we are to avoid putting health at greater risk,” Dr Hanna said. “The reality is, cutting emissions will bring many immediate benefits for public health, as well as help limit climate change in the longer term. We can afford to do it, but we cannot afford to wait.”

Categories Advocacy, Behaviour change, Children, Climate, Emissions, Environment, Ethics, Extreme weather, Health, Heatwaves, Psychology, Public health, Public policy, survival, Sustainability, Transformation
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Forum on Climate and Health: the Research, Policy and Advocacy Agenda

by CAHA
November 23rd, 2013

Forum on Climate and Health: the Research, Policy and Advocacy Agenda 

November 2013

This forum brought together health and medical researchers, health and medical professionals, students, environmental educators and community members to discuss the research, policy and advocacy agenda needed in Australia on climate and health.

Participants  issued a Joint Statement following the forum expressing their collective concern at the current lack of recognition of the health effects of climate change by governments, businesses and the broader community.

Click on this link to read the Joint Statement from Participants. The accompanying media release is here.

You can read a ‘storified’ report of the  Twitter stream from the event here.

Listen to this podcast from the forum prepared by Beyond Zero Radio presenter Vivien Langford.

Categories Advocacy, Allied health, Behaviour change, Climate, Emissions, Energy, Energy policy, Environment, Ethics, Extreme weather, Health, Health policy, Health professionals, health promotion, healthcare, Heat, Heatwaves, Medical, Nursing, Psychology, Public health, Public policy, Research, Social policy, Sustainability, Sustainable, Transformation
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Bit by bit

by CAHA
November 14th, 2013

Street based campaigning to engage people in climate action can be challenging, and sometimes campaigners wonder if it’s worth it!

People don’t always want to engage directly, and for some members of the community, hearing about climate change is confronting and so they would rather not talk about it – or even accept a flyer about a climate-related event.

But every little interaction like this is a building block for further interaction and can help in providing an opening for those people to think more about the issue down the track.

Here’s what psychologist Dr Bronwyn Wauchope had to say to some campaigners handing out flyers for the National Day of Climate Action this Sunday:

“Some people just aren’t willing to accept it’s a real problem, but don’t underestimate those momentary interactions – it’s about breaking it down for people bit by bit. Like building a house, we need to lay our foundations brick by brick. Over time this will build into a strong structure, one that people will see and want to replicate.

It can be hard when people refuse to see this reality or refuse to care about nature or others, but let’s not confuse that with how we feel – your efforts to engage and encourage others to stand up for this issue are admirable so be sure to congratulate yourselves! 

Plus it’s more depressing to stand aside and do nothing, and you’re protecting our own health and well-being by taking action.

While those who declined may not give this another thought, just by having that brief interaction will increase the chance they will have a conversation later or fleetingly think about it when they see it on the TV or when a movie star speak about it.

Over time those interactions will build up, and when they hear others in their circle express concern, they’ll be more likely to share that concern.” 

Categories Advocacy, Behaviour change, Climate, Energy, Health, Psychology, Sustainable, Wellness
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Sydney screening: The Human Cost of Power

by CAHA
October 23rd, 2013

The new short film, The Human Cost of Power, a project of the Climate and Health Alliance and Public Health Association of Australia, will be screened in Sydney on 20th November 2013.

An event at the University of Notre Dame will be the first NSW screening of the film that explores the health and climate impacts of coal and gas.

When: 6.00pm-7.30pm Wednesday 20th November 2013

Where: Lecture Theatre NDS14/201, University of Notre Dame, 160 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW. Download a campus map here. 

Categories Advocacy, Children, Climate, Coal, Emissions, Energy, Energy policy, Environment, Health, Solar, Transformation, Wind
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Green dialysis program in Geelong

by CAHA
September 24th, 2013

By CAHA Convenor, Fiona Armstrong

“I had the pleasure of attending the September meeting of the Victorian Green Health Round Table Group this month and was inspired by some of the actions being taken within Victorian hospitals to reduce their environmental footprint and save resources.

Individuals from around fifteen major hospital groups met at Barwon Health in Geelong to discuss current initiatives and to hear from Professor John Agar on the world leading green dialysis program run at Barwon Health.

Professor Agar shared the success of the green dialysis program, and the Barwon team’s contribution to starting the world’s literature on eco-dialysis. There are now 30 publications in the health and medical literature about this program.

The program began as a nocturnal dialysis program to allow patients to dialyse at home, however the excessive costs associated with water, power and waste that were then borne by patients forced a rethink about how to take a smarter approach to water use and re-use and sourcing cheaper power.

The unit now provides the world’s first solar powered dialysis system and recycles and reuses reject water from the reverse osmosis system. Patients are sent home with solar panels that cover all the energy requirements of the dialysis machine.

A recent publication in Australian Health Review on the carbon footprint of dialysis outlines the carbon footprint of the unit and compares it to other hypothetical units in other states in order to predict the impact of local factors on emissions profiles.

In the longer term the team hopes to have a purpose built facility that is eco friendly, eco responsive, and carbon light in order to deliver ecodialysis services to all patients.”

For more info, see www.greendialysis.org

Categories Advocacy, Climate, Environment, Health, healthcare, Solar, Sustainability
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The Human Cost of Power

by CAHA
September 11th, 2013

Film Screening

A new short film, ‘The Human Cost of Power’, produced by award winning science journalist, Alexandra de Blas will be previewed at a public forum in Melbourne on Wednesday 18th September 2013.

The film, ‘The Human Cost of Power’ explores the health impacts associated with the massive expansion of coal and unconventional gas in Australia.

The public forum will feature expert speakers including University of Melbourne researcher Dr Jeremy Moss, climate scientist Professor David Karoly, Friends of the Earth campaigner Cam Walker, and Dr Jacinta Morahan from Surf Coast Air Action.

The Human Cost of Power is produced for the Climate and Health Alliance and the Public Health Association of Australia.

The forum is supported by the Social Justice Initiative at the University of Melbourne.

The public forum and film screening will be held from 6.00pm-7.30pm at the Laby Theatre, Room L108, Physics South Building 192, University of Melbourne on Wednesday 18th September 2013.

Eventbrite - The Human Cost of Power

For more information about the film, and CAHA’s work on this topic, check out our Healthy Energy Projects page.

Categories Advocacy, Climate, Coal, Emissions, Energ policy, Energy, Energy policy, Health, Public health, Public policy
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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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