Health Impacts of Climate Change PDF

Health impacts of climate change: Addressing climate-sensitive diseases and public health Dr Bhakti Vasant Public Health Physician  Acknowledgement of Country Metro South Health recognises and pays respect to the traditional custodians of the land and waters — the Yuga...

Health impacts of climate change: Addressing climate-sensitive diseases and public health Dr Bhakti Vasant Public Health Physician  Acknowledgement of Country Metro South Health recognises and pays respect to the traditional custodians of the land and waters — the Yugambeh, Quandamooka, Jaggera, Ugarapul, Turrbal and Mununjali peoples — and to Elders, past, present and emerging. Learning objectives Identify specific climate-related health risks and explain the underlying connections between these risks and changing climate patterns. Discuss the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between medical experts and climate scientists. Propose strategies for adapting public health systems to face the challenges posed by climate change.  long term shifts in weather patterns human activity role Source: Communicating on climate change and health: Toolkit for health professionals (who.int)  Mitigation = Stopping climate change from getting worse Adaptation = Making changes to live with the impacts of climate change Carbon dioxide removal = Taking carbon dioxide out of the air Net zero = Adding no carbon dioxide into the air. This doesn’t have to mean you can’t add any carbon dioxide. It means if you add carbon dioxide into the air, you take the same amount out Definitions take same amount out Tipping point = When it is too late to stop the effects of climate change Unprecedented transition = Making big changes to stop climate change – in a way that has not been seen before Sustainable development = Living in a way that is good for people alive today and for people in the future Abrupt change = A change in climate that is happening much faster than it normally would Source: A quick guide to climate change jargon – what experts mean by mitigation, carbon neutral and 6 other key terms (theconversation.com)  shortage of fresh water Source: Planetary health (unfccc.int)  Broad socioeconomic, cultural and environmental factors affecting health individual at centre connection with others - influence with living and working conditions right to life, food water Source: Dalgren G, Whitehead M. Policies and strategies to promote social equity in health. Institute for Future Studies 1991. [Cited 12 September 2023. Available from URL: Policies and strategies to promote social equity in health (core.ac.uk)  Poor people Minority groups, First Nations people Women Children Older people People with chronic diseases, disabilities People residing in areas with high prevalence of climate related diseases Workers exposed to extreme Populations at highest risk of climate heat or increased weather variability change-related health impacts Source of text: Levy BS, Patz JA. Annals of global health 2015; 81(3): 310–322, Source of image: CBS news , available from URL: https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/climate-change-photos/35/ The distribution of climate impacts is inequitable richest 10% 50% of gases lowest carbon footprint most affected Source: Patz J, et al. Climate change and global health: Quantifying a growing ethical crisis. EcoHealth 2007; 4: 397 –405  also mental health changes in distribution of allergens affect water quality Source: CDC. chrome- extension://efaidnbmnnnibp cajpcglclefindmkaj/https://w ww.cdc.gov/museum/pdf/cd cm-pha-stem-climate- change-and-health- lesson.pdf  heatwaves effect on mental health Source: Communicating on climate change and health: Toolkit for health professionals (who.int) Bushfires 2019–2020 3 months, 10 million hectares, 3000 homes destroyed Directly caused 33 deaths Cost $100 billion Blanketed Australia’s cities in smoke Air pollution levels 10x hazardous ratings Health impacts of smoke exposure ~417 excess deaths ~305 asthma emergency department presentations ~3151 hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory conditions Mental health impacts: loss of life and livelihood, trauma, fear of the future Source of text: Med J Aust 2020; 213 (11): 492.e2-492.e10. || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50869 , source of image: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-06/pacific-nations-pledge-aid- for-australias-bushfires/11844008 Factors contributing to cardiovascular risks of climate change high stress increased presentations for CV disease Source: Nature Reviews Cardiology 2021; 18: 1–2 Infectious diseases affected by climate change affect infectious disease host status adapt to heat high CO2 forest fires - expose to pathogens Source: Over half of known human pathogenic diseases can be aggravated by climate change | Nature Climate Change Focus on mental health Nearly 1 billion people worldwide have a mental disorder 1 in 7 teenagers Trauma caused by heatwaves, droughts, floods and fires Community breakdown, conflict, food and water insecurity 2021 survey of 10,000 people aged 16-25y Nearly 60% highly worried about climate change 45% said climate change affects daily life (work, sleep) 55% felt powerless powerless and betrayed 58% felt betrayed by their governments Psychological toll invisible, neglected Source: What happens when climate change and the mental-health crisis collide? (nature.com), How Climate Change Can Affect Your Mental Health | Blogs | CDC 3:4 are concerned impact on mental health Source: Climate-of-distress-Survey-results-2023.aspx (orygen.org.au) Mental health impacts ↑Depression, PTSD, substance abuse, child abuse and domestic violence During natural disasters, ratio of mental health problem to physical injuries is 40 to 1 Source: Psychiatry.org - Addressing the Public Mental Health Challenge of Climate Change Mental health impacts of Lismore Floods 2022 some live in temporary accommodation shells of houses Twelve months on and we still cannot live ordinary lives. As shocking as it is seeing the physical damage to our homes, our city and our landscape – the level of trauma and suffering across our community is even more significant... Mental health cannot be an afterthought. As a nation, we have to prepare, respond and resource ourselves so that no-one has to struggle through the new climate reality we are living in without the right care and support. Source: Report-Climate-Change-and-Mental-Health.pdf (climatecouncil.org.au) not living normal lives affect mental health  80% extremely or very worried Source: Report-Climate-Change-and-Mental-Health.pdf (climatecouncil.org.au) sleep disorder, PTSD Source: Report-Climate-Change-and-Mental-Health.pdf (climatecouncil.org.au)  Case study Source: Report-Climate-Change-and-Mental-Health.pdf (climatecouncil.org.au) Addressing climate impacts on mental health Specialist help for those experiencing debilitating impacts on mental health Feeling scared or angry, but otherwise not unwell, is normal. access specialist help Energy can be harnessed to spur action. Inaction is a source of distress Action by governments required Source: What happens when climate change and the mental-health crisis collide? (nature.com),  time in nature reduce stress Psychiatry.org - Addressing the Public Mental Health Challenge of Climate Change  Collaboration between climate scientists and medical experts everyone's business Source: Mind the gaps! Climate scientists should heed lessons in collaborative storytelling from William Shakespeare - Shenk - 2022 - WIREs Climate Change - Wiley Online Library Framework for climate- resilient health systems “Capable to anticipate, respond to, cope with, recover from and adapt to climate- related shocks and stress, so as to bring sustained improvements in population health, despite an unstable climate” Collaboration between health and health- determining sectors (water, energy, food, agriculture, urban planning) Need to reduce vulnerability, develop building blocks capacities, add a long-term perspective, leadership and governance ensure adaptive management approaches, ensure community approaches and voices reduce poverty heard reduce vulnerability action with uncertain information Source: 9789241565073_eng.pdf (who.int) Adaptation of the health system in Australia Australia’s Climate and Health Strategy was launched on 3 Dec 23 Commitment to net zero healthcare Climate Change Bill 2022 commits Australia to reduce GGH emissions by 43% by 2030 cf 2005 and net zero by 2050 reduce gases improve resilience sustainable health system Climate health vulnerability and capacity assessments Research to support evidence-based action workforce knowledgable Develop climate health capacity in the healthcare workforce Embed First Nations knowledge in climate policy / action Source: climate-change-and-australias-healthcare-systems-a-review-of-literature-policy-and-practice.pdf (racp.edu.au), National Health and Climate Strategy | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Climate Change Bill 2022 – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)  QLD Health Climate Risk Strategy Principles Eight Themes – focused at the system Leadership and Governance ensure aware and respond Our People Emission Reduction Resilient Infrastructure Sustainable Procurement low carbon options for pharmaceuticals Health System Planning Public Health – Advocacy and Support Research and Innovation CSIRO has predicted that QH budget will approach $60 Billion in 20 years if climate risks remain unchecked (CSIRO 2020: A Healthy Horizon). Slide kindly provided by Uma Rajappa, Queensland Health  Emission Reductions Key Objectives Transition asset operations towards zero net emissions through recording and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and measuring these against agreed targets. Prioritise renewables, recycled and low carbon materials into the built environment and integrate low carbon operating systems into the co-design and upgrade of facilities. Implement energy efficiency and emission reduction programs through investments in renewable energy, energy conservation measures, and low emissions infrastructure. Adopt low carbon operations through a range of energy, waste, construction, and fleet management policy practices, including offsets, to transition assets and operations towards zero net emissions. Slide kindly provided by Uma Rajappa, Queensland Health Social tipping interventions by the health community to stabilise the climate purchasing power learn by doing critical mass and policy changes progress key subsidies look after wellbeing varbon neutral cities Source: Learning to treat the climate emergency together: social tipping interventions by the health community - The Lancet Planetary Health Health co-benefits of measures that reduce Greenhouse gas emissions save lives from improved air quality healtier diets Source: Learning to treat the climate emergency together: social tipping interventions by the health community - The Lancet Planetary Health Healthy Places, Healthy physical and social wellbeing key People welcoming Framework Source: Healthy Places, Healthy People framework | Queensland Health What can doctors do educate community Ensuring that the health impacts of pollution, deforestation, biodiversity loss and climate change are included in medical training Considering carefully our own model of care and the ways we (and the institutions we work for or belong to) might be able to reduce our carbon footprint Talking to our patients about relevant environmental health matters as, indeed, Hippocrates was doing more than 2000 years ago when he wrote his thesis On airs, waters and places Encouraging and supporting further research on health impacts of environmental change and options for transitions to sustainable ways of living; Educating the community about planetary health issues when appropriate opportunities arise; and Reflecting on the way we live at home and our recreational pursuits. In an effort to safeguard the health and wellbeing of current and future generations, we must all aspire to tread lightly on the Earth and leave the planet a better place for future generations. Source: Planetary health: what is it and what should doctors do? | The Medical Journal of Australia (mja.com.au) References Communicating on climate change and health: Toolkit for health professionals (who.int) A quick guide to climate change jargon – what experts mean by mitigation, carbon neutral and 6 other key terms (theconversation.com) Planetary health (unfccc.int) Policies and strategies to promote social equity in health (core.ac.uk) Levy BS, Patz JA. Annals of global health 2015; 81(3): 310–322 Patz J, et al. Climate change and global health: Quantifying a growing ethical crisis. EcoHealth 2007; 4: 397 –405 Med J Aust 2020; 213 (11): 492.e2-492.e10. || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50869 Nature Reviews Cardiology 2021; 18: 1–2 Over half of known human pathogenic diseases can be aggravated by climate change | Nature Climate Change What happens when climate change and the mental-health crisis collide? (nature.com) How Climate Change Can Affect Your Mental Health | Blogs | CDC Climate-of-distress-Survey-results-2023.aspx (orygen.org.au) Psychiatry.org - Addressing the Public Mental Health Challenge of Climate Change Report-Climate-Change-and-Mental-Health.pdf (climatecouncil.org.au) Mind the gaps! Climate scientists should heed lessons in collaborative storytelling from William Shakespeare - Shenk - 2022 - WIREs Climate Change - Wiley Online Library 9789241565073_eng.pdf (who.int) National Health and Climate Strategy | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Learning to treat the climate emergency together: social tipping interventions by the health community - The Lancet Planetary Health Healthy Places, Healthy People framework | Queensland Health Planetary health: what is it and what should doctors do? | The Medical Journal of Australia (mja.com.au)  Thank you [email protected] [email protected]