FAQs

The Department for Health and Wellbeing has collaborated with key stakeholders to develop a draft SA Health Climate Change Framework.  

The draft Framework proposes eight (8) priority action areas and reflects some excellent work already underway within SA Health’s hospitals, health services and facilities. It also recognises the significant roles the broader health sector has in climate mitigation, adaption and supporting the community. 

Climate change is impacting South Australia now. South Australia is becoming hotter and drier, with more severe weather events such as flooding, heatwaves, and bushfires.

The draft Framework also draws knowledge from existing work undertaken by other jurisdictions and peak bodies, adjusted to a South Australian health context. 

With the changing climate there are more disasters and events occurring simultaneously and back-to-back. This means there is less time for recovery and a greater impact on physical and mental health and resilience, compared to a single event.

The term “permacrisis” reflects the possibility that our communities could remain in a state of climate crisis due to the frequency and number of these events.

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.

There are significant risks to the healthcare system, including workforce shortages from those exposed to extreme weather events, damage to healthcare infrastructure and an increase in demand for healthcare due to climate change.  

The health risks of climate change can be direct and indirect. 

Direct impacts include injury from disasters, impacts on body systems such as exacerbations of cardiovascular disease from exposure to hot temperatures and respiratory impacts from insults such as bushfire smoke and air pollution.

Indirect impacts include increase in mosquito-borne disease and food and water insecurity due to changing ecosystems.

Climate change is also having serious effects on mental health and wellbeing, which can be temporary or may persist long after the triggering event.

The health industry is seeing impacts of climate change particularly on the mental wellbeing of children and young people, as well as impacts in the form of depression, anxiety and PTSD on those who have suffered through climate related extreme weather events. 

Resilience to the health impacts of climate change comes from shared knowledge, education, communication, and joint action with all stakeholders. Additionally, action across the system is required to substantially decrease carbon emissions from health operations and transition to Net Zero in all areas.

Your feedback will ensure that the things that matter to you are considered in the development of the final draft Framework, which will also inform development of future plans such as an overarching SA Health Climate Change Strategy.

All feedback will be taken into consideration and you can have your say by taking our survey, sharing comments or emailing a submission to public.health@sa.gov.au