Dear Friends,

Climate action is a long game. 

As we digest the news of the election result, I want to write and say thank-you to our amazing supporters, members, partners, and allies who have helped support CAHA’s work to highlight the links between health and climate change - and propose solutions to respond.

The Climate and Health Alliance today will launch their 2019 federal election campaign with a call for action on the health emergency caused by climate change.

The Climate and Health Alliance has welcomed the commitment from the Australian Greens to implement a plan to tackle the health effects of climate change based on the National Strategy on Climate, Health and Wellbeing and commit $2 million over the forward estimates to this.

As part of the ALP Climate Policy Package, Shadow Minister for Climate Change Mark Butler and Shadow Minister for Health Catherine King announced the ALP commitment that a Shorten Labor Government will develop Australia’s first National Strategy on Climate Change and Health.

The Climate and Health Alliance was pleased to recently host Dr. Trevor Hancock with his presentation on 'Creating one planet communities'. 

Dr Hancock discussed the challenge we face as a species - to reduce our ecological footprint to Earth’s ‘biocapacity’, while maintaining a high quality of life and good health for all.

Are you a leader in environmental sustainability in health?

Have you led projects to build sustainability in your workplace?

Do you have research or practical information to share with the health sector?

You are invited to submit an abstract to present at the 2019 Health Sustainability Forum.

On Friday 15 March, CAHA was proud to march in solidarity with students striking across the globe, demanding action on climate change. 

Inspired by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, students walked out in over 100 countries, with over 150,000 students striking in Australia alone. CAHA staff, directors, members and supporters joined the throngs of students across Australia, in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Cairns and Wollongong. 

We are excited to announce that registration for our Climate Health Champions workshops in Cairns and Townsville are now open! Places are limited, register now to avoid missing out. 

Secure your spot for Cairns here and Townsville here.

All over Australia, health professionals are increasingly concerned about the effects of climate change on health and well being. Many are joining the Our Climate Our Health campaign to support action on climate change to protect their community's health. 

COP24 is the most important climate conference since world leaders signed on to the landmark Paris Agreement (2015) on climate change. International assemblies like these are always frenetic, with thousands of attendees, hundreds of sideshows and lots of backroom negotiations. I wanted to provide you with some insights into what’s been happening, as negotiations are now close to wrapping up.