Our changing climate now presents a significant and emerging threat to public health. Publications by the World Health Organisation (Climate Change)
and WA Health studies have identified numerous direct and indirect health impacts from climate change. Some of these include:
- Temperature health impacts
- Extreme weather related health effects
- Air pollution related health effects
- Water and food borne disease health impacts
- Vector borne disease health impacts and
- Indirect health impacts
Climate Change in Western Australia
In 2007 WA Health in partnership with the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre of Environmental Health Impact Assessment at Curtin University applied the Health Impact Assessment process to consider the potential health impacts that may arise in Western Australia from Climate Change. The outcomes of this process have been published as: Health impacts of climate change: Adaptation strategies for Western Australia (PDF 783KB).
The information from the study is being used to inform Government and community policy and decision making for community adaptations.
Responding to Climate Change
In February 2008 WA Health formed the Health and Climate Change Steering Group (HCCSG). The role of the HCCSG is to support, and where relevant, coordinate WA Health policy development and implementation of:
1. The implications of climate change on the WA community
2. The ability of WA Health to respond to emergencies associated with climate events
3. The preparedness of the health care system to care for people affected by climate events
4. The requirements of the health system to reduce its greenhouse emissions and environmental footprint
5. Responses to state and national policy on climate change.
For further information contact the Science and Policy Unit of the Environmental Health Directorate on phone (08) 9388 4999 or email firstname.lastname@example.org
Climate Change Guidance Materials