March 2023: All the latest in climate, health and sustainability
Climate and Health Alliance
We're building a powerful health movement for climate action.
Welcome to the March edition of #ClimateHealth News! Welcome our new member organisations:
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Top three reads
Work on the National Health and Climate Strategy is underway
Consultation on Australia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy kicked off last week! Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney and Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister held their first consultation roundtable, attended by CAHA leadership and members. Congratulations to the Ministers and Dr Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah MP for starting this long-awaited process! Here’s our media release.
The Draft Strategy will soon be released to the advisory group, with public consultation to follow. CAHA will provide more details as they are released. Stay tuned!
Our healthy transport campaign is kicking off!
This year, CAHA is advocating for a cleaner, healthier transport system to reduce illness and deaths from air pollution, physical inactivity and poor urban design. We’re looking to build a coalition of health organisations who are concerned about the health effects of our current transport system, like air pollution, physical inactivity and more. If your organisation would like to be kept informed about the campaign, please sign up!
Learn more about the Voice to Parliament
The Uluru Statement Statement from the Heart has put together an excellent 20-minute interactive course to help Australians understand what is meant by Indigenous Constitutional Recognition through a Voice to Parliament. If you’ve got questions about the Voice, we really recommend giving it a go. More info
News
Air pollution from traffic linked to 11,000 premature deaths per year
Australian health institutions receive global awards for climate action
Five of our GGHH Pacific health organisation members have been internationally applauded for their leadership on climate change within the health sector! “These awards are a testament to the amazing work underway by dedicated individuals working to decarbonise the healthcare sector,” said Dr Stefanie Carino , CAHA’s Sustainable Healthcare Program Manager. Read more
World first study shows how EVs cut pollution levels and reduce costly health problems
A new study by the University of Southern California has provided proof that even at low numbers, more electric vehicles mean better air quality and better health. Read more
Prescribing nature: the restorative power of a simple dose of outdoors
The health benefits of green and blue spaces – that is, in nature with plenty of greenery or among a body of water – are well documented. Incorporating time in nature is becoming more commonplace in international healthcare. While “it’s not a silver bullet”, experts suggest that nature prescriptions could be integrated into the health system as part of routine care. “[It] could have multiple benefits for people’s mental, social and physical health and probably cost little to the individual and the health system.” Read more
‘The Voice to Parliament is a beginning, not an end’
Yorta Yorta woman and Indigenous health expert, Associate Professor Summer May Finlay shares her perspective on various aspects of the Voice, and why she will be voting yes. Read her piece in Croakey Health Media .
Advocacy
Calling for gas-free homes in Victoria
CAHA member organisation, Healthy Futures has launched a public letter calling on the Victorian government to commit to no new gas connections to homes by 2025 and to support vulnerable households to make the transition to renewable electricity. CAHA has proudly signed onto the letter, alongside other CAHA members. Individuals and organisations based in Victoria can sign on too!
100+ Australians scientists are calling for an end to new fossil fuel projects
Today, more than?100 Australian scientists and experts, backed by?50 Australian environmental and climate organisations (including CAHA),?have signed an open letter calling on the Australian Government to prevent any further new fossil fuel projects in Australia. Below is the open letter published in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning. Add your name too!?Sign on here.
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Events
Leave Nobody Behind: Disability disaster risk reduction
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience // 27 March, online
The Leave Nobody Behind webinar series explores collaborative disability inclusive disaster risk reduction (DIDRR) practices. Expert speakers will explore how government, emergency services, people with disability and the services that support them are working together to put person-centred and capability-focused approaches to DIDRR into action. Register now
Mental Health and Climate Change: Do we have a policy gap?
UQ Mental Health and Climate Change Transdisciplinary Research Network // 28 March, online
CAHA founder Fiona Armstrong is joining other experts to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our local, state and federal policies which cover climate change and mental health, and explore the way forward. Register now
Healthcare Carbon Literacy Workshop & Lifecycle Analysis Masterclass
@Melbourne Medical School // 3 April in Melbourne
Melbourne Medical School is hosting a sustainable healthcare education event, with detailed presentations and facilitated discussion by leading Australian experts in the field of sustainable healthcare. The program includes a Healthcare Carbon Literacy Workshop in the morning, and an optional Life Cycle Assessment Critique Masterclass after lunch. Register now
The Climate Crisis and Health Free Masterclass
CAPHIA // 4 April, online
As part of Global Public Health Week, CAPHIA is hosting a free masterclass with climate-health experts and CAHA members, Professor Sotiris Vardoulakis and Dr Dr Kimberly Humphrey . Together they will explore the effects of climate change on all facets of health and wellbeing, including health risks experienced by communities who are the most vulnerable, including women, low-SES communities, migrants and older populations. Register now
Health & Environmental Sustainability Conference
Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (Victorian Branch) // 27 April in Melbourne
This conference is for all levels of nursing, midwifery and carers to learn new ways to reduce waste and promote sustainability in their work. Join together with a growing movement of health professionals who are changing the way we deliver health and striving to improve our work, home and wider environments. Register now
Research and resources
New CAHA submissions
Australia's political engagement on health and climate change
Several public health leaders and CAHA members, including our founder Fiona Armstrong , have recently published in the Medical Journal of Australia, stating that “Urgent and sustained political engagement is needed to address the health impacts of climate change”.
New report, Homes, Health and Asthma
CAHA member Asthma Australia has released a new report, Homes, Health and Asthma. This report explains why homes are not always healthy, particularly for those with asthma and/or allergies. It covers gas appliances, mould and wood heater, and includes a series of policy recommendations to ensure health and climate concerns are accounted for.
Evaluation of the psychological impact of racism on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Everyday racial discrimination could explain nearly half of the gap in psychological distress experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, compared to non-Aboriginal Australians. This is according to new research published in the Lancet in December, the first evaluation for any First Nation population of the impact of racism on a population’s burden of psychological distress. Probono Australia published a brief overview of the report, with commentary from co-author and Indigenous health expert Dr Janine Mohamed from the Lowitja Institute .
Future-proofing healthcare against pandemics and climate change
CAHA member organisation, Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University has produced a White Paper to put forward the case for using Learning Health Systems 2.0 to better prepare for future pandemics, and the crises and pressures induced by climate change that will increasingly affect the provision of high-quality care.
Climate Action Nurses release their first Zine!
Climate Action Nurses is an energetic and passionate group of dedicated nurses who are working together on important climate health and emissions reduction initiatives. Check out their first Zine – an online magazine with videos, links and information on the group and their initiatives. Inside you’ll find some CAHA content too!
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