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Researchers warn that lives in Australia are threatened by the lack of measures taken by governments to deal with the health consequences of climate change.
The group of 19 experts from 13 universities and research institutes said that Australia had "pulled back" and dragged on other developed countries, including Germany and Great Britain, to protect the health of people against the effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures and air pollution.
In the first comprehensive report on Australia's progress in addressing climate change-related threats to health, experts identified the risks, including malnutrition, heatwaves, epidemics and other threats. mental health problems.
And they note that with the exception of Queensland, no state or territory has a comprehensive, self-sustaining policy to help people adapt to climate change and protect their health.
"Overall, we find that Australia is vulnerable to the effects of climate change on health and that political inaction in this regard is threatening Australian lives," says the report released Thursday by the Medical Journal of Australia and the Lancet.
The report focuses on direct health impacts, such as heat-related deaths, measures in place to help people adapt, and the benefits of mitigating threats by putting in place more sustainable transportation system to improve the quality of the air.
It also uniquely examines the impact that climate change can have on mental health, highlighting the link between increasing numbers of suicides and rising temperatures in recent years.
"I think it's an area we need to focus on," said one of the report's co-authors, Associate Professor Paul Beggs, of Macquarie University, at the University of Toronto. 39; PAA.
"One of the report's strategic recommendations is to do more research in this area to examine the relationship between climate and mental health so that we can better cope."
The report calls on governments at all levels to put in place comprehensive policies to help cities and people adapt to rising temperatures and longer heat waves, two factors badociated with high mortality rates. higher.
A warmer climate can also affect the spread of Salmonella infections and dengue outbreaks, while more frequent droughts and floods can threaten the supply of fresh food and people's ability to eat healthy, has it? he warned.
Professor Ass Beggs said that urgent action is also needed on renewable energy, as Australia is heavily dependent on carbon-intensive energy sources.
"Previously, we were one of the leaders in renewable energy, but other countries have now pbaded us," he said.
He suggested that one of the reasons for the lack of political action in Australia was the declining media coverage of the health consequences of climate change and actions taken by other countries.
The report found a 50% reduction in the number of news articles on health and climate change in Australia over the past decade, compared to a 78% increase in journalistic coverage worldwide.
"At the same time, there was no political commitment to health and climate change in Australia during the same period," he said.
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