Tony Walter

There is scientific consensus that the global climate is changing and increasing climate variability. These changes are expected to substantially impact human health and well-being. Environmental Health Profession (EHP) has the experience and knowledge to address all physical, chemical and biological factors external to persons, impacting their health. Environmental Health needs to advance the profession further to be prepared for these expected changes by using effective interventions for reducing many health risks from climate and weather-related hazards in Australia. It is hypothesised that Environmental Health Professionals lack the skills and knowledge to build climate change adaptation capacity effectively.

Timely and effective climate change adaptation planning and implementation are essential and urgent and can offer health services longer-term financial savings, as well as improve understanding of the complex relationship between the risks posed by climate variability and change, and by other factors. EHP have a professional obligation to become advocates for change at the individual and policy levels. Australia is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on health, and that policy inaction in this regard threatens Australian lives. The impact of this research is expected to guide the EHP and potentially global EHP to be better prepared to manage climate change health impacts in the future.