A Na%onal Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia

About CAHA  Coali'onofhealthgroupsworkingtogethertoadvocateforclimateac'ontoprotecthealth,andworkingtoreducetheenvironmentalfootprintofthehealthcaresectorwww.caha.org.au Partnerandaffiliateofinterna'onalNGOHealthCareWithoutHarm CoordinatethePacificregionofGlobalGreenandHealthyHospitalsnetworkwww.greenhospitals.net ConsideredaleaderinAustraliaandgloballywithinthehealthcommunity PartofClimateAc'onNetworkAustralia-bringinghealthperspec'vesandhealthvoicestotheclimatemovement Partofthebroaderglobaleffort–foundingmemberandonboardoftheGlobalClimateandHealthAlliancewww.gcha.org LeadingtheOurClimateOurHealthcampaignwww.ourclimate-ourhealth.org.au

What we do

 Advocacyforpolicy Reports,briefingpapers,submissions,posi'onpapers

 Films,mediaandcommunica'ons

 Seminars,forums,thinktanks

 Greeningthehealthsector

 Educa'onandcapacitybuilding

Background to NSCHW

 DohaDeclara'ononClimate,HealthandWellbeingsignedbyorganisa'onsrepresen'ngmillionsofhealthprofessionalsaroundtheworld

 GlobalClimateChangeandHealthPolicySurveyReport-globalprojectledbyCAHAfortheWorldFedera'onofPublicHealthAssocia'ons(WFPHA)

 First-everglobalbenchmarkingsurveyofna'onalclimateandhealthpolicy

 Evaluatedhowna'onsarerespondingtothehealthimpactsofclimatechange

 ShowedAustralialagsbehindotherindustrialisedna'onsinprotec'ngitsci'zensfromthemajorhealthrisksassociatedwithglobalwarming

 TheParisAgreementobligespar'estoconsidertheirci'zens‘righttohealth’inthecontextofna'onalclimatechangeresponse,andtoconsiderhealthco-benefitsincontextofmi'ga'onpolicy

 Withoutana'onalstrategy,Australialacksanymechanismtoensurethisoccurs.

Paris Agreement

Theory of change

PolicyGoal:ANa'onalStrategyforClimateHealth

andWell-being

Strategicengagementwithhealthorganisa'onsand

individuals

Buildingcapacityforadvocacyonclimatechangeandhealthamonghealthprofessionals

Anengagedandmobilisedhealthsectoradvoca'ngto

andworkingwithparliamentariansand

policymakers

Buildingconsensusinthesectoraroundthepolicy

frameworkfortheNa'onalStrategy

Consulta%on

 June2016:DiscussionPaper:TowardsaNa'onalStrategyonClimate,HealthandWell-being August2016:OnlineDiscussionForumusingpax.republicpla]orm September2016:Reportfromresponsestosurvey October2016:HealthLeadersRoundtable

How we see the framework ◦  Outlinespolicydirec'onsthatcouldbetakenatthefederal,state/territoryandlocalleveltosupportAustraliainprotec'ngpopula'onhealthfromtheimpactsofclimatechange,andmee'ngitsinterna'onalobliga'onsinrela'ontotheParisAgreement

◦  Proposessharedresponsibilityforimplementa'onacrossmul'plelevels,sectorsandjurisdic'ons

◦  Facilitatever'cal(na'onal,stateandlocalgovernments)andhorizontalcollabora'ontoaddressthiscomplexproblem(prescribespolicydirec'onsforarangeofpor]olios,includingenergy,climate,environment,transport,andinfrastructure)

◦  Recommends“win-win”climatechangemi'ga'onandadapta'onstrategies,whichbothreducegreenhousegasemissionsandthesocialandeconomicburdenofill-healthinthepopula'on

◦  ProvidesapolicyframeworkagainstwhichAustraliacandemonstrateitsprogressagainsttheLancetCountdownIndicators

Suppor%ng organisa%ons

1.  WhyweneedaNa-onalStrategyonClimate,HealthandWell-beingforAustralia,whichhighlightsthehealth,climateandeconomicimpera'vesforac'on;2.  ThePolicyFrameworkforaNa-onalStrategyonClimate,HealthandWell-beingforAustralia,whichdetailstheVision,Principles,andAreasofPolicyAc'onneededtoachievethedesiredoutcomesoftheStrategy;3.  Implemen-ngtheStrategy,whichdetailsthegovernancearrangementsandmechanismsforevalua'on,monitoringandrepor'ngontheStrategy’sprogress.

The Areas of Policy Ac%on

Principles  Therighttohealth Communitysafetyandresilience

 Environmentalprotec'onasafounda'onforhealthandwell-being

 HealthinAllPolicies Intragenera'onalandintergenera'onalequity Minimisingandmanagingrisk

 Indigenousrights,recogni'onandreconcilia'on Ci'zenengagement

Health-Promoting and Emissions-Reducing Policies ◦  Reduce risks to health and greenhouse gas emissions ◦  Targeting energy, transport, built environment and agriculture

◦  Example outcome: ◦  Cleaner air, healthier people: reduced morbidity and mortality associated with pollution

from fossil fuel based energy sources for electricity (coal, gas, diesel) and transport (oil, diesel and gas).

◦  Example policy recommendations ◦  Rapidly phase out coal- red power for electricity ◦  Develop programs and incentives to encourage utilisation of healthy, low emissions,

active (walking and cycling) and public forms of transport (bus, tram, train) ◦  Invest in low or zero emissions transport infrastructure (for example passenger/freight

rail, bicycle paths) ◦  Incorporate health impact assessments in the evaluation of applications for land use

change ◦  Expand national programs to preserve natural environments, including wilderness areas

and national parks

Emergency and Disaster-preparedness ◦  Enhancing the disaster-preparedness of the health sector in responding to

extreme weather events and other severe climate change impacts

◦  Example outcome: ◦  Climate-resilient health and emergency services are adequately prepared for and able to

respond to climate- related health threats, including those posed by extreme weather events.

◦  Example policy recommendations ◦  Expand investment in early warning systems to effectively identify potential climate-related

threats to health, such as extreme weather events, to enable rapid response to mitigate the impacts on Australian communities

◦  Expand investment in vulnerability mapping programs to identify and map vulnerable populations and infrastructure to inform climate adaptation strategies and emergency response plans

◦  Incorporate climate-health risks in national health performance standards eg develop a new NSQHS Standard for minimising the health risks of climate change to the health of patients and to the delivery of safe, quality care.

Supporting Healthy and Resilient Communities ◦  Enhancing the capacity for communities to anticipate and respond to

climate risks and health impacts ◦  Capacity building, emergency planning, health promotion

◦  Example outcome: ◦  People in local communities are better able to prepare for, survive, cope with and

recover from climate related events and emergencies ◦  Example policy recommendations

◦  Resource and support community based health and social service organisations to develop their understanding of climate risks to service delivery and the population groups they serve, especially vulnerable groups such as older people, children and younger people and those on low incomes

◦  Commit to closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage by fully resourcing, supporting and implementing the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan

◦  Develop and expand programs at the national, state, and local levels to engage and support all communities in environmental connection and protection initiatives as a vital health promotion measure

Education and Capacity Building ◦  Increasing awareness of, and capacity to respond to health impacts of

climate change ◦  Targeting both communities and the health workforce

◦  Example outcome: ◦  The general public and health workforce is more educated and aware of the health risks

of climate change, and better prepared to recognise and react to these risks.

◦  Example policy recommendations ◦  Develop a national education and training framework to support health professionals in

recognising, preparing for and responding to the health impacts of climate change ◦  Develop a national educational campaign to inform communities about the health risks of

climate change, health-protective adaptation strategies and the health benefits of reducing emissions and transitioning to a low-carbon future.

Leadership and Governance ◦  Establishing effective governance arrangements to support a National

Strategy for Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia ◦  Advocate for and demonstrate leadership internationally on action to

address the health impacts of climate change. ◦  Example outcome:

◦  Effective national leadership which facilitates increased international commitments to addressing the impacts of climate change on health and well-being.

◦  Example policy recommendations ◦  Advocate for the inclusion of health and climate change in high-level statements of the

General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) ◦  Ensure increased support for climate change adaptation and resilience building in the

region and develop a comprehensive climate change strategy for Australia’s aid program, including a focus on addressing the health risks from climate change

A Sustainable and Climate Resilient Health Care Sector ◦  Achieving a low/zero-carbon, sustainable and climate resilient health

sector ◦  Targeting sector emissions and environmental impact, sector resilience

◦  Example outcome: ◦  A health system which delivers high-quality care in financially and environmentally

sustainable ways and successfully manages climate risks, and in so doing, improves public health and community resilience

◦  Example policy recommendations ◦  Establishment of a national sustainable health care unit within the Commonwealth

Department of Health to provide leadership and direction for the health sector and support state/territory efforts to implement sustainability initiatives..

◦  Support the establishment of state and territory health care sustainability units ◦  Expand and promote the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals initiative

Research ◦  Building Australia’s climate and health research capacity to identify/

evaluate specific health threats, priority needs and opportunities for maximising co-benefits

◦  Example outcome: ◦  Decision-making is informed by robust, Australian generated research on climate change

health threats and the mechanisms of health impact, identification of vulnerable communities as well as co-benefits, and effective strategies to mitigate or adapt to health risk factors..

◦  Example policy recommendations ◦  Support Australia’s health and climate research capacity through the establishment of an

ongoing climate change and health funding stream, including: ◦  Assessment and forecasting of climate change health impacts across Australia’s

climatic zones ◦  Assessment of health-related economic benefits to be gained from pro-health climate

change adaptation strategies that include building community

Implementing the Strategy ◦  Responsibilities beyond health sector

◦  Proposal to create a unique structure based on that of the Ministerial Drug and Alcohol Forum

◦  Co-Chaired by Commonwealth Ministers with responsibility for Health, Environment and Energy

◦  Membership includes Ministers from each jurisdiction covering aforementioned areas

◦  Forum will oversee development and implementation of the Strategy, reporting to COAG on progress and outcomes

Next steps  Trainingandcapacitybuilding:◦  OnedayAdvocacyandOrganisingWorkshopinMay2017◦  ThreedayResiden'alAdvocacy,Organising,CampaigningWorkshopJune2017

Buildinganetworkofclimate-healthmentors–suppor'nghealthprofessionalstomeetwiththeirMPandaskthemtocommittothedevelopmentandimplementa'onoftheNa'onalStrategy

ExpandingtheCoali'onoftheWilling–buildingthebaseofcampaignsuppor'ngorganisa'onsandsuppor'ngandencouragingthemtoincorporateadvocacyforaNa'onalStrategyonClimate,HealthandWell-beingintotheirownadvocacyagenda/plans/efforts

Nego'a'ngwithpoli'calpar'esandpor]oliostocommittothedevelopmentandimplementa'onoftheNa'onalStrategy

Making our voices heard

It’s time to protect our health from climate change

AUSTRALIANS’ LIVES ARE INCREASINGLY AT RISK HEALTH MINISTER GREG HUNT

It’s time to protect our health from climate change

AUSTRALIANS’ LIVES ARE INCREASINGLY AT RISK HEALTH MINISTER GREG HUNT

What can you do?  WewelcomefeedbackontheFrameworkfortheStrategyfromallstakeholders,soplease:

• ReviewtheFrameworkwhenitismadepublic,seewhatrecommenda'onsapplyyourjurisdic'on/policyarea/areaofinterestandthinkabouthowitmightbeapplied

• Shareyourthoughtsonanygaps/omissions/addi'ons• Seeksupportfromstateandlocalgovernmenttoadvocateforadop'onofana'onalstrategytoensureacoordinatedna'onalapproach

• Advocateforitsfurtherdevelopmentandimplementa'onatna'onallevel• Checkoutourcampaignwebsite:www.ourclimate-ourhealth.org.au• Getintouchifyouhaveanyques'ons/sugges'ons:emailfiona.armstrong@caha.org.au