Media contact:
Fiona Armstrong Call 0438 900 005 or email [email protected]
Adam Pulford Call 0424 885 387 or email [email protected]
2019
10 December 2019
With 'hazardous' air pollution from bushfire smoke blanketing Sydney, Executive Director of the Climate and Health Alliance Fiona Armstrong today called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to act swiftly to reduce emissions to help protect our climate and our health.
"Climate change is a health emergency, and the hazardous air pollution from the New South Wales bushfires is one of the ways people's health is being harmed by climate change right now," Ms Armstrong said.
"With Sydney blanketed in bushfire smoke, people in Sydney are encouraged to stay indoors where possible and avoid exercise, particularly people with underlying heart or respiratory conditions.
14 November 2019
The life of every child will now be profoundly affected by climate change: report
A new report published in the international medical journal The Lancet, developed by scientists at 35 universities and institutions around the world, says accelerating climate change will now define the lives of all people including children born today.
The world is struggling to cope with warming that is occurring faster than governments are able or willing to respond, the 2019 Lancet Countdown report says, and global leadership on climate change and health is being left to those most affected, particularly small island developing states.
Fiona Armstrong, Executive Director of the Australian Climate and Health Alliance, a coalition of health groups raising awareness about the risks to health from climate change, said: “Governments and industry must do more.
11 September 2019
Australian health care sector second highest greenhouse gas emitter per capita, new report finds
Australia’s health care sector is the second highest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita, according to Health care’s climate footprint: How the health sector contributes to the global climate crisis and opportunities for action, a new report by Health Care Without Harm (HCWH).
The report also finds that, if the global health care sector were a country, it would be the fifth-largest greenhouse gas emitter on the planet.
“The role of the health sector is a critical one in addressing the climate crisis. The healthcare sector in Australia is responsible for 7 per cent of our total national emissions, which is more than the waste sector, and more than industrial processes,” said Fiona Armstrong, Executive Director of Australia’s Climate and Health Alliance, HCWH’s strategic partner in Australia.
8 August 2019
Stronger air pollution laws essential for Australian’s health
Australia’s air pollution standards are failing to protect the health of the nation’s children and costing the nation $16 billion each year, the national peak body for health groups, the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), said today.
“Australian children are increasingly suffering from asthma, in rates that are among the highest in the world,” CAHA Executive Director Fiona Armstrong said.
3 May 2019
Health groups release climate policy scorecard: Coalition earns 0/8
The national coalition of health groups working for climate action, Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), has released a Federal Election Scorecard after analysing the parties’ policies on climate change and health.
The health impacts of climate change are the cause of deep concerns among health and medical professionals worldwide. The British Medical Journal and the World Health Organization Director General have both described climate change as a “health emergency” and the Medical Journal of Australia has said that inaction on climate change is “costing lives” in Australia.
16 April 2019
“Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to the health of people in Australia and across the world.”
AN OPEN LETTER from an unprecedented coalition of health, welfare, and environment groups published today calls for all candidates in the upcoming federal election to recognise climate change as a core public health threat and commit to supporting policy to respond.
11 April 2019
CAHA welcomes the WA Government’s action on climate change and health
The Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), a coalition of over 30 health organisations, today welcomed the Western Australian Government’s release of its Sustainable Health Review. In particular in relation to the reports recommendation for the state’s public health system to address the effects of climate change on the community’s health.
2 April 2019
The Climate and Health Alliance have welcomed the commitment by Federal ALP today to a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being.
Fiona Armstrong, Executive Director of the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), said the announcement made by Federal Labor demonstrates their understanding of the fundamental impacts that climate change is already having on the health and well-being of Australian communities.
1 April 2019
Without action on climate change – Australia’s health budget is at risk
To protect the health and well-being of all Australians, and to prevent cost blow outs, future budgets must include a commitment to action on climate change – the Climate and Health Alliance says.
The Climate and Health Alliance is calling for the federal government to allocate appropriate funding and resources to address the current and growing risks that climate change poses to public health.
13 March 2019
Health Coalition Supports School Strike 4 Climate
The national coalition of health groups working for climate action, Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), has announced its support for the School Strike 4 Climate being held in cities and towns across Australia on 15 March 2019.
CAHA Executive Director Fiona Armstrong said the hopes and fears of young people about the threats to the global community from the damaging effects of climate change were shared by health and medical professionals across the world.
2018
30 November 2018
Phase out of coal and carbon price are key public health measures: research report
Health groups representing around 50% of the national health professional workforce are demanding the implementation of a national climate and health policy following the publication of the latest assessment of Australia’s performance in the international medical journal, The Lancet.
The Lancet Countdown report, which assesses countries’ performance on indicators including vulnerability to climate impacts, adaptation and mitigation plans, shows that Australia continues to lag behind comparable high-income countries in its response to climate change and the impacts on human health.
29 October 2018
Health professionals weigh in on air pollution impact
Australia's leading health groups are calling on the government to respond to the increasing threat of air pollution to people’s health.
As the World Health Organisation meets for the first ever global conference on air pollution and health in Geneva on Monday, the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) voiced growing concern about the increasing health impacts on the Australian population.
15 October 2018
Health groups welcome support for climate and health strategy
Health groups representing hundreds of thousands of health professionals across Australia are calling on all Wentworth by-election candidates to support a national strategy on climate change and health, warning the evidence of health impacts from a changing climate are too severe to ignore.
Independent candidate for Wentworth, Dr Kerryn Phelps, is the latest candidate to back the national strategy based on the framework developed by health stakeholders, following last week’s IPCC report that “unprecedented” changes were needed if global warming increases 1.5C beyond the pre-industrial period.
8 October 2018
Public health warning: exceeding Paris targets puts hundreds of thousands of lives at risk
Australian health professionals have declared the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report a public health warning and called on the federal government urgently develop a national climate and health policy.
19 February 2018
Queenslanders to benefit from health plan to combat climate change impacts
A Discussion Paper and Survey released today calls for health services and those providing aged care and childcare to contribute to the development of a climate change response plan for the health sector in Qld.
The Queensland Government has funded the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) and the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) to develop a health and wellbeing climate adaptation plan for the state.
2017
14 November 2017
Medibank divestment from fossil fuels a win for people's health
As a coalition of groups committed to better health and a safer climate, the Climate and Health Alliance has welcomes the decision by Medibank to divest from fossil fuels.
"The decision by Medibank to limit its exposure to assets that contribute to global warming is an important acknowledgement of the harmful impacts of climate change on people's health and well-being," said Climate and Health Alliance Executive Director, Fiona Armstrong.
31 October 2017
Human lives being lost due to inaction on climate: major new international health study
A major new health report reveals the failure of nations, including Australia, to tackle climate change is jeopardizing human lives and livelihoods around the world.
The Lancet Countdown 2030 report reveals 125 million vulnerable adults have been exposed to heatwaves since 2010, with an additional one billion facing exposure by 2040.
An accompanying Australian Policy Brief highlights the need for all levels of government to prioritise health in climate change responses, which should include phasing out coal, tightening emissions regulations in transport and building sectors, and integrating health in climate policy, as per the example of the health sector led Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia, released in June 2017.
22 June 2017
World First: Leading Health Experts Launch a Framework for a National Climate and Health Strategy
In a world first initiative, a coalition of leading health experts and organisations, along with federal parliamentarians, will today launch a Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia.
The Framework has been developed on behalf of a coalition of over thirty health and medical organisations, and follows a year-long national consultation to identify stakeholders’ priorities and concerns regarding the health impacts of climate change.
Executive Director of the Climate and Health Alliance Fiona Armstrong said: “The Framework provides a comprehensive roadmap to assist Australia in addressing the significant risks that climate change poses to the health and well-being of the community, and in meeting its obligations to citizen’s ‘right to health’ under the Paris Agreement.”
Health and medical experts call for national strategy on climate change: new report
Latrobe Valley to benefit from cleaner air and better health
2016
Australia’s health leaders tackle climate change at Parliament
Australians left critically vulnerable to climate change: health experts warn
Time for Health Minister to address climate change as a major threat to health
Major political parties fail to protect Australia from climate change health impacts
Federal election: Time running out for politicians to explain how they will protect people from worsening health impacts of climate change
Australian health groups join global call on G7 nations to phase out coal
Mine investigation response drives home importance of phasing out coal
Senate Committee Report chronicles deadly risks of coal mining
Investing in Health: New report on the case for fossil fuel divestment
US leadership on climate and health highlights Australia’s failure
2015
Australia lagging behind on climate and health policy: global survey
‘Our Climate, Our Health’ Health groups launch joint campaign to position global health as a key issue in the global climate change negotiations
VW diesel debacle – a wake up call
Health groups welcome ALP renewable energy target, but more needed
Health groups call for tough emissions cuts with no new coal-mines and coal power closure
Obama proclamation on climate change and health puts Australia on notice
Health groups call for coal and health inquiry in light of new pollution data
CAHA responds to misleading claims by NSW Minerals Council in relation to Coal and Health report
Health leaders call on NSW Premier to ban new coal mines in Hunter
2014 Media Releases
Climate disruption is underway: Australia’s obstruction on policy putting lives at risk
Avoiding further global warming can be done cheaply and will improve health
Health care sector explores pathways to low carbon operations
Abbott refusal to attend UN Climate Summit a risk to national interest: health and medical leaders
Senators urged to vote against repeal: a carbon price is good for health
Federal budget an investment in climate and health damages
Health and wellbeing the winners in the emerging low carbon world
Health professionals call for climate action after UN climate change report
WA urged to vote for climate and health in Senate election
We’re not yet ready for climate change but it’s here now, and harming our health
Answers needed re health of smoke affected community in Morwell
Failure to act on climate change putting the health of Australians at risk
Health groups sound the alarm on Direct Action Plan
2013 Media Releases
Climate change to cause significant loss of life: health research and policy forum
Australian film to carry climate message to Europe, while Government refuses to attend climate talks
IPCC climate science report confirms Australia cannot afford to delay: health experts
Coal and gas harming health and driving climate change: health experts
Click here to view a short version (5 minutes) of The Human Cost of Power.
Health sector thinking green and global for better health
RET, adaptation research and Clean Air Act glimmers of hope in ‘climate-lite’ campaign
Greens a clear choice on climate change and health
Download the Climate and Health scorecard here.
Health groups put climate first in election poll
Coal production putting lives at risk
Lives increasingly at risk from ‘angry climate’
Health groups call for urgent action to address health risks from coal and coal seam gas
Health groups to discuss harm to health from coal, csg
Health bodies warn that heatwaves put health at risk
2012
Health is the most important motivation for climate action
New coal and health report welcomed
Major health threat overlooked in national medical research review
Inaction on climate change now a leading cause of deaths globally
New network of sustainable healthcare launched in Australia
Billions in health benefits from targeted climate action
Environmental and health groups welcome ACMA finding against 2GB
Fossil fuel subsidies are harming our health
Energy policy in need of intensive care
Climate action is good for health: Health experts forum at Melbourne festival
Wind power a safe and healthy alternative to fossil fuels
2011
Action on climate will be good for health
Health must be at the heart of climate talks
Murray Darling draft plan fails to protect health
Expansion of coal must stop, health groups say
Health groups call on Baillieu to stick to emissions target
Health groups prescribe science-based approach to water for the Murray
Abbott is wrong: the carbon price is a public health measure
Baillieu is wrong: the carbon price is good for health
Carbon package a good start but more needed
Health the victim of carbon price fuel exemption
Health groups call for healthy Murray Darling
New study shows rising health penalty from climate change
Carbon price revenue should support health, not polluters
Carbon price must rule out coal
Health groups warn of public health risk from low carbon price
2010
PC study into climate policy must also consider health costs
Healthy benefits from strong action on climate
Guide to boost climate literacy welcomed – clearly needed in Canberra
Alliance supports climate and health taskforce proposal
A new prescription needed for a safe climate
Inaugural meeting of the Climate and Health Alliance