The risks posed by climate change to health threaten to exacerbate many of the health inequities experienced by those living and working in regional and rural areas.1 With many of these communities reliant on primary agriculture production and vulnerable to drought, bushfires, cyclones, floods and heatwaves, these areas stand to be disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, particularly as water security is inherently threatened by changes in climate.

Climate in Action at ACRRM

  • The College recently endorsed a new Sustainable Events Policy, which outlines strategies to minimise the carbon impact of College events, as consistent with international moves towards green policy
  • Endorsed the WONCA open letter on Climate Change
  • Joined with Doctors for the Environment and others in a day of action in Perth last week, calling on the WA government to take urgent action on Climate Change.

National policy developments

Australia is a party to the Paris Agreement, which aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and pursuing efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C.

There are a range of initiatives linked to this commitment:

  • The National Resilience Taskforce’s Alternative Commonwealth Capabilities for Disaster Response Discussion Paper states that Climate change will likely make future crises increasingly complex, consecutive and cascading, and a  whole-of-society effort is needed to build national capacity and resilience, while enhancing the Commonwealth’s ability to support States and Territories as primary first responders. 

  • ACRRM has provided feedback on the NRT discussion paper. 

  • The College is considering its response to the Select Committee on Disaster Resilience, which will consider the role of the Australian Defence Force, volunteer groups, not-for-profit organisations and state-based services, and the support required to improve Australia’s resilience and response to natural disasters. The Senate is taking submissions on an ongoing basis and the reporting date has been extended to 24 April 2024. 

  • The Department of Health and Aged Care published the National Health and Climate Strategy on Sunday 3 December. The Strategy has been developed in recognition of the urgent need to mitigate health system emissions and support the health system and the community to be better prepared for, and resilient to, the health impacts of climate change. ACRRM  provided feedback at various stages of the consultation process and is reviewing the published version.  

  • The establishment of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on 1 July 2022 aims to address climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as the climate and biodiversity crises, holistically. ACRRM provided feedback on the Alternative Commonwealth Capabilities for Crisis Response Discussion Paper in September this year, and will be working with RDAA in the new year to review the Joint Policy Statement on Emergency Responders.  

College Commitments  

As a trainer of the next generation of rural doctors, ACRRM is committed to developing policy and progressing toward reducing its own organisational carbon footprint, as well as educating and supporting its members on practical ways that they can make a positive contribution.  The curriculum review to be undertaken over 2024 will be looking at opportunities to strengthen our climate health content. 

Please contact Policy@acrrm.org.au  at any time if you would like to provide feedback on a particular issue or consultation. 

You can read more about the College’s work in Climate and Health on our website.