DR BRENDAN GOODGER General Manager Primary Care Improvement, Central and Eastern Sydney PHN
KYLIE SOMMERVILLE Population Health and Chronic Disease Program Officer, Central and Eastern Sydney PHN
Ensuring Healthy Futures Responding to the Climate Crisis – the role of Primary Care
Climate change is now impacting public health
respond to climate change while also supporting
— this is the challenge of our generation.
their patients affected by the impacts of a
The health and well-being of the Australian
changing climate. Health care is a significant
population is particularly vulnerable to the
contributor to climate change and is responsible
further intensification of our natural climate
for an estimated 7% of greenhouse gas emissions
extremes. As our natural environment becomes
in Australia.2 The healthcare sector can
more stressed, we are seeing the emergence
demonstrate its leadership by taking measures
and spread of new diseases. Abnormal weather
to reduce emissions and respond to the health
events and environmental disasters are exposing
impacts of climate change.
communities to more frequent and worsening
Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are well-
storms, heatwaves, floods, droughts and fires
placed to take on this leadership role. With their
and air pollution.
large populations and many thousands of primary
Decisive action is needed to reduce the
health care providers, PHNs can advocate and
impacts of climate change and ensure a
support primary health care providers to adopt
healthy future for our communities. The
more environmentally sustainable practices and
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is
manage the health consequences arising from
clear — the world must limit temperature rise to
climate-related events in their communities.
reduce the impacts on health, livelihoods, food
PHNs can also play a strong role in local disaster
security, water supply and economic stability.
management — coordinating and supporting
1
Health care practitioners are leaders in their community and are uniquely placed to help
primary care providers on the frontline in their response to adverse weather events such as bushfires and floods.
40
The Health Advocate • NOVEMBER 2022
