Impacts of climate change on public health in Australia

This Deeble Institute Issues Brief looks at the immediate and longer-term impacts of climate change and how it may affect Australian health and social environments.  The authors call on Federal and State Governments and agencies within the Australian public health sector to heed the information, opinions and recommendations provided here and offer them guidelines for decision-making in responding to climate change impacts.

"A new approach, based on ecological principles, will be required to navigate through the complex and interrelating health causes. The public health sector must strengthen existing approaches for effective climate change adaptation strategies, including assessing regional health risks to identify vulnerable and resilient populations, collecting enhanced surveillance data and developing monitoring indicators."

Impacts of climate change on public health in Australia: Recommendations for new policies and practices for adaptation within the public health sector.  Walter T, Stevens P, Verhoeven A & Boxall A. Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research (2014).