We need a national strategy on climate and health

image of We need a national strategy on climate and health

Will you email your MP to demand action to protect our health from the adverse effects of climate change?

Australian individuals, families and communities are at risk of health impacts from heatwaves, extreme weather, and changing patterns of disease associated with global warming.

But unlike many nations, Australia is actively undermining international progress, and has no national strategy to respond to this serious risk.

Experts are calling for Australia to implement a national strategy on climate, health and wellbeing. We have just launched Healthy, Regenerative and Just, providing the government with a framework for how to create such a strategy ...

Will you email your MP to demand action to protect our health from the adverse effects of climate change?

Australian individuals, families and communities are at risk of health impacts from heatwaves, extreme weather, and changing patterns of disease associated with global warming.

But unlike many nations, Australia is actively undermining international progress, and has no national strategy to respond to this serious risk.

Experts are calling for Australia to implement a national strategy on climate, health and wellbeing. We have just launched Healthy, Regenerative and Just, providing the government with a framework for how to create such a strategy to reduce emissions, tackle inequality and improve health.

See the framework at www.caha.org.au/framework

Will you email your MP and ask them to work with their colleagues to make it a reality?

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Will you ask your MP now for urgent climate action to protect Australians’ health?

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Subject:

I write to you out of concern for the health and wellbeing of my family, friends and broader community from the impacts of climate change. Climate change, and its impact on our health, will be a core voting issue for me in the next federal election.

As my elected representative, I would like you to consider the new comprehensive policy plan from the Climate and Health Alliance: Healthy, Regenerative and Just: A Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia, and raise it within your party room.

The framework can be accessed at www.caha.org.au/framework

This is important to me, as already in Australia, the impacts of climate change are adversely affecting the health and well-being of Australian communities and burdening our healthcare system. In a recent survey of health professionals, 72% of respondents agreed that climate change is already adversely affecting public health in Australia. Likewise, 57% agreed that climate change was affecting health services and infrastructure, and they expect it to get worse. As climate change drives more extreme weather, creates food insecurity, spreads infectious disease and affects the mental health of many, our health services will be under immense pressure to respond accordingly.

The health impacts of climate change can only be prevented with ambitious efforts to:

- Cut our greenhouse gas emissions
- Reduce our reliance on fossil fuels for energy and transport
- Support our health system to be resilient and sustainable in the face of worsening climate impacts

Our current policies are inadequate to protect the health of Australians and meet our international obligation to contribute fairly to restoring a safe climate. To protect our health, we need a national strategy on climate, health and well-being.

The Healthy, Regenerative and Just framework sets out an inclusive vision for that strategy. It offers a comprehensive suite of recommendations, informed by academics, researchers, health service managers, policymakers, professional associations, unions, and health and medical professionals from many disciplines.

I ask you to raise this in your party room for discussion, and to work with your parliamentary colleagues to develop and implement this strategy as a national priority.

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