Climate change and health
Consultation has concluded
We are inviting you to share your thoughts about climate change and health by providing your feedback on a draft SA Health Climate Change Framework.
What's being decided?
We are seeking your feedback on the proposed eight (8) priority action areas identified within a draft SA Health Climate Change Framework.
These priority areas outline the breadth and scope needed to achieve SA Health’s four (4) identified goals for responding to climate change, being:
- Environmentally sustainable
- Net Zero
- Climate resilient
- A provider of high-quality health services.
The Framework will guide SA Health’s workforce and health services located across South Australia to adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. It will bring sustained improvements in population health - despite an unstable climate.
Background
Climate change is the most significant health challenge and opportunity of our century and action is needed now, to ensure the future health of South Australians.
Climate change will affect everyone through:
- worsened air quality due to increased dust and pollens
- extreme weather events like fires and floods, and
- more frequent heatwaves.
Vulnerable people, including those with insecure housing, poverty, chronic illnesses, older South Australians and the young, will be most affected.
The draft Framework reflects some excellent work already underway within SA Health’s hospitals, health services and facilities. It recognises the significant roles the broader health sector has in climate mitigation, adaption and supporting the community. It also draws knowledge from existing work undertaken by other jurisdictions and peak bodies, adjusted to a South Australian health context.
Get involved
Find out more:
- read the draft SA Health Climate Change Framework
- take a look at our FAQs
- read the climate change and health fact sheet
Have your say by:
- taking our survey below and telling us what you think of the draft Framework
- sharing a comment on our 'Guest Book'
- asking a question online
- emailing a submission to public.health@sa.gov.au
- posting your written submission to:
Dr Kimberly Humphrey
Public Health Medical Consultant and Climate Change Lead
Public Health Division
Department for Health and Wellbeing
CitiCentre Building, 11 Hindmarsh Square
ADELAIDE SA 5000
What are the next steps?
Your feedback will ensure that the things that matter to you are considered in the development of the final SA Health Climate Change Framework, which will also inform development of future plans including an overarching SA Health Climate Change Strategy.
We will release the final Framework later in 2024 and will make it available on this page.
The Framework needs more mention of the role of Advocacy within Healthcare teams. We will be the frontline in responding to changes, we need to be more accountable for educating and informing patients and general public.
There needs to be a scaled up response around 'rural/regional' response in general. Needs more input from those teams as the most vulnerable, alongside our valued Aboriginal colleagues. Also needs a more flexible response of support from the metro areas in emergency planning, as well as emergency planning of increased influx of patients into the metro areas to support regional areas under duress.
Mental health a VERY key area here - not really highlighted in the Framework as such.
RE: 5.1 Develop renewable energy transition and use targets.
The State Government and SA Health stopped purchasing significant accredited renewable electricity in 2014. The SA Government websites have progressively removed all references to buying renewable electricity and GreenPower.
If SA Health is going to lead by example, it needs to address why it is not prepared to buy accredited renewable electricity. SA Health should acknowledge that just being in South Australia does not mean renewables use. The best that could be claimable from the grid is the mandatory Renewable Power Percentage plus 53 % of the small tradable percentage. These together represent about 30%. To get to 100%, SA Health would need to buy the balance as GreenPower or Large-scale Generation Certificates (~70%).
Customers buying accredited renewable electricity have already led by example. It would be great for SA Health to follow their lead.
In regard to renewable electricity use and related zero emissions, I trust that SA Health understand the difference between market based accounting and location based accounting (including which one should be used for net zero claims). I also would expect that SA Health would participate in an accreditation framework such as Climate Active to assure its progress to net zero emissions.
Happy to discuss.
There was no "none of the above for the last survey question
As our Northern Areas of SA get hotter it will be even more difficult to find Health Staff to work in what already is an unbearable climate
There should have been a tick box for " moronic" at the end of the survey
Another waste of tax payers money and distraction by a department that can not actually do what they are paid to do, provide quality and safe healthcare for all South Australians.