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The Western Australian government has announced a major survey on the effects of climate change on health.
Health Minister Roger Cook said the investigation was triggered by concerns that an increase in extreme weather events would lead to more injuries and illnesses, including infectious diseases.
"Climate change has been described as the greatest global threat to 21st century health and it has serious consequences for the people of Western Australia and for the health system of Western Australia," he said. said Sunday Mr. Cook.
The survey will be conducted by the former Director General of Health, Tarun Weeramanthri, who will also examine ways in which the health system can reduce its environmental footprint, in particular reducing emissions and waste.
Mr Cook said the state's health system had used 81 million disposable gloves, 42 million single-use items and nine million plastic items such as test specimens and specimens. instrument trays during the past year.
During the same period, it also spent $ 47.3 million on electricity and $ 17.2 million on water.
"I have called on WA's public health system, as one of the largest state agencies, to do more to reduce its emissions, to function in a more sustainable way and to implement adaptation measures, "Cook said.
"To achieve this, we need to better understand the impacts of our changing climate conditions and their costs, both financial and non-financial."
The final report of the survey is to be published by the end of 2019 and its findings will form the basis for a new coordinated framework for health and climate change for the WA.
Australian Associated Press
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