Skip to content

APodA - National Health and Climate Strategy

APodA - NATIONAL HEALTH AND CLIMATE STRATEGY 

The Australian Government aims to establish a National Health and Climate Strategy with the overarching purpose of protecting the health and wellbeing of Australians from the impacts of climate change. The Strategy will encompass:
 
• Emissions mitigation as well as adaptation to the unavoidable impacts of climate change, recognising the interdependent relationship between these two areas
 
• All levels of the health system – national, state/territory, and local health systems
 
• Primary and community care, secondary and tertiary care, and aged care -- including public health and preventive health
 
• Private as well as public providers – including health and aged care providers, providers of diagnostic and pathology services, and providers of health-related education and training
 
• Manufacturers – including manufacturers of health technology products and consumables used by the health system
 
• Actions beyond the health system to improve the resilience of communities to prevent and improve health, in line with the Health in all Policies approach.

The APodA has been offered an opportunity to offer a response to the proposed National Health and Climare Strategy. We would like to empower the profession to have their say on this critical topic and, in doing so, help us put our best foot forward in addressing the future impacts of climate change.
 
Details:

Survey end: 20th July 2023
Link to Consultation: HERE

Should you wish to reach out to the Advocacy Team at the APodA to discuss this in further detail or would prefer to email your response to the consultation, please get in touch with us via Advocacy@podiatry.org.au 


 
1.It is proposed that the Strategy includes the following objectives in support of this vision:

1. Measurement: Measure and report on health system greenhouse gas emissions, so progress in reducing emissions can be tracked and quantified.

2. Mitigation: Accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the health system

3. Adaptation: Strengthen the resilience of the health system and communities to anticipate and respond to the health impacts of climate change.

4. Health in All Policies: Maximise the synergies between good climate policy and public health policy by working across policy areas to lessen the impact of climate change on the social and cultural determinants of health and wellbeing.

Question: How could these objectives be improved to better support the vision of the Strategy?
2.It is proposed that the strategy above objectives are informed by the following principles.

1. First Nations leadership: First Nations knowledge and experience must be central to decisionmaking on climate and health policy at all levels.

2. Tackling health inequities: A health equity approach recognises some populations are more vulnerable to and have less capacity to adapt to the health impacts of climate change, and that responses to climate change need to take account of disparities in health outcomes.

3. Population health and prevention: The response of the health system, and society more generally, to climate change must be underpinned by a public health perspective. This recognises that prevention of disease and maintenance of good health across the lifespan, in combination with optimal secondary and tertiary prevention, assists both mitigation and adaptation.

4. One Health: The Strategy will be underpinned by the principle of One Health – recognising the connection that exists between the health of people, animals and the environment.

5. Evidence-informed policymaking: The response to climate change must be based on the best available data, evidence and research – but we must also be willing to take action on a prudent and precautionary basis in the face of uncertainty and incomplete information. Where possible, actions should be prioritised based on the principles of cost-effectiveness analysis, considering where resources can be allocated to maximise population health gains, while also taking account of health inequities and rights-based approaches.

6. Partnership-based working across all levels of government and beyond: All levels of government need to work closely with each other, as well as with communities, patients, First Nations, not-for-profit organisations, peak bodies, private industry and education and research institutions to craft and implement a holistic and nationally consistent response to climate change.

Question: How could these principles be improved to better inform the objectives of the Strategy?
3.What existing First Nations policies, initiatives, expertise, knowledge and practices should the Strategy align with or draw upon to address climate change and protect First Nations country, culture and wellbeing?
4.What types of governance forums should be utilised to facilitate co-design of the Strategy with First Nations people to ensure First Nations voices, decision-making and leadership are embedded in the Strategy?
5.What additional data and information is required to support targeted emissions reduction efforts within health and aged care?
6.Proposed areas of focus for the Australian health system to reduce emissions in:

1. Built environment and facilities (including energy and water)
2. Travel and transport
3. Supply chain
4. Medicines and gases
5. Waste
6. Prevention and optimising models of care


What do you think of these proposed focus areas for emissions reduction? Should anything else be included?
7.Which specific action areas should be considered relating to the built environment and facilities (including energy and water), over and above any existing policies or initiatives in this area?
8.Which specific action areas should be considered relating to travel and transport, over and above any existing policies or initiatives in this area?
9.Which specific action areas should be considered relating to medicines and gases, over and above any existing policies or initiatives in this area?
10.Which specific action areas should be considered relating to prevention and optimising models of care, over and above any existing policies or initiatives in this area?
11.What can be done to involve private providers within the health system in the Strategy's emissions reduction efforts?
12.What ‘quick wins’ in relation to emissions reduction should be prioritised for delivery in the twelve months following publication of the Strategy?
13.What health impacts, risks and vulnerabilities should be prioritised for adaptation action through the Strategy? What process or methodology should be adopted to prioritise impacts, risks and vulnerabilities for adaptation action?
14.Should the Australian government develop a National Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment and National Health Adaptation Plan? If yes:

a) What are the key considerations in developing a methodology?  
 
b) How should their development draw on work already undertaken, for example, at the state and territory level or internationally?  
 
c) What are the key areas where a national approach will support local/jurisdictional vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning?
15.Would there be value in the Australian government promoting a nationally consistent approach to vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning for the health system specifically, for instance by issuing guidance and associated implementation support tools for states, territories and local health systems? If yes, what topics should be covered to promote a nationally consistent approach? What examples of existing guidance (either from states/territories or internationally) should be drawn from?
16.What immediate high-priority health system adaptation actions are required in the next 12 to 24 months?
17.What are the key areas in which a Health in All Policies approach might assist in addressing the health and wellbeing impacts of climate change and reducing emissions?
18.What are the most effective ways to facilitate collaboration and partnerships between stakeholders to maximise the synergies between climate policy and public health policy? What are some successful examples of collaboration in this area?
19.Enablers provide the foundation for action in the health system to tackle climate change.

Proposed Enablers:

Enabler 1: Workforce, leadership and training
Enabler 2: Research
Enabler 3: Communication and engagement
Enabler 4: Collaboration
Enabler 5: Monitoring and evaluation

How could these enablers be improved to better inform the objectives of the Strategy? Should any enablers be added or removed?
20.For each of these enablers:

a) What is currently working well?  
b) What actions should the Strategy consider to support delivery?
Current Progress,
0 of 20 answered