The MJA-lancet countdown on health and climate change: Australian policy inaction threatens lives

Ying Zhang*, Paul J. Beggs, Hilary Bambrick, Helen L. Berry, Martina K. Linnenluecke, Stefan Trueck, Robyn Alders, Peng Bi, Sinead M. Boylan, Donna Green, Yuming Guo, Ivan C. Hanigan, Elizabeth G. Hanna, Arunima Malik, Geoffrey G. Morgan, Mark Stevenson, Shilu Tong, Nick Watts, Anthony G. Capon

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    23 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Climate plays an important role in human health and it is well established that climate change can have very significant impacts in this regard. In partnership with The Lancet and the MJA, we present the inaugural Australian Countdown assessment of progress on climate change and health. This comprehensive assessment examines 41 indicators across five broad sections: climate change impacts, exposures and vulnerability; adaptation, planning and resilience for health; mitigation actions and health co-benefits; economics and finance; and public and political engagement. These indicators and the methods used for each are largely consistent with those of the Lancet Countdown global assessment published in October 2017, but with an Australian focus. Significant developments include the addition of a new indicator on mental health. Overall, we find that Australia is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on health, and that policy inaction in this regard threatens Australian lives. In a number of respects, Australia has gone backwards and now lags behind other high income countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom. Examples include the persistence of a very high carbon-intensive energy system in Australia, and its slow transition to renewables and low carbon electricity generation. However, we also find some examples of good progress, such as heatwave response planning. Given the overall poor state of progress on climate change and health in Australia, this country now has an enormous opportunity to take action and protect human health and lives. Australia has the technical knowhow and intellect to do this, and our annual updates of this assessment will track Australia’s engagement with and progress on this vitally important issue.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)474.e1-474.e21
    JournalMedical Journal of Australia
    Volume209
    Issue number11
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 10 Dec 2018

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