Recommendations on climate change and health
Recommendations on climate change and health
Climate change is the greatest threat to health of this century. It is already worsening health outcomes globally, from higher rates of illness and death related to extreme weather events and heat, to the spread of infectious diseases and increasing food insecurity. But opportunities to protect our health and climate are immense and readily available. We urge decision-makers to adopt these recommendations for action.
Results Australia urges the Australian Government to adopt these policies:
1. Develop a roadmap to ramp up renewable energy production whilst phasing out fossil fuels as quickly as possible, in both our export and domestic markets.
The roadmap should have clear targets and timelines, and include an immediate end to approvals for new coal, oil, and gas projects, or their extensions.
Fossil fuel use is the largest driver of climate change - and thus one of the biggest threats to our health. Phasing out fossil fuels is one of the most important public health interventions we can take.​
Australia is one of the world's largest fossil fuel exporters, and the world’s largest coal exporter. We are also the world’s 12th largest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases. A rapid and equitable transition from a fossil fuel heavyweight to a world-leading clean energy superpower is a win-win for everyone. It would help Australia do its fair share to curb global heating - thus protecting people and communities in Australia and worldwide. It would also boost renewable energy jobs, support Australian companies to be leaders in the global renewable energy revolution, and future-proof our energy export market.
2. Triple Australia’s climate finance spending in line with the tripling of the global climate finance goal.
This equates to AUD11 billion over 2025–2030. It should be new and additional to the existing aid budget, and should not increase debt burdens.
Climate finance (funding for climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in the Global South) is essential to enable vulnerable communities to withstand the impacts of climate change. Climate finance is pivotal for strengthening health systems and building community resilience to climate-related health shocks.
Our climate finance should include funding for the Pacific Resilience Facility - the first Pacific-owned and led climate finance vehicle - as well as our fair share contribution to the global Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage.
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To scale finance, investments should be directed away from activities that harm our health and climate, and instead invested in climate action. An example is fossil fuel subsidies: in 2024–25, Australian governments provided $14.9 billion worth of spending and tax breaks to assist fossil fuel producers and major users.
3. Raise Australia’s aid budget to 1% of the Federal Budget, and increase support for all areas of our international development assistance including those that address health and climate resilience.
Australia’s overseas aid program has transformed millions of lives globally by helping people and communities break the cycle of extreme poverty. It has been a vital mechanism for improving health, nutrition, climate resilience, education, livelihood and equality outcomes in thousands of communities experiencing poverty and marginalisation.
However, Australia’s aid program has been cut repeatedly over the last twelve years. The Australian Government now only spends 65 cents in every $100 of its spending - far less than the OECD average and the Government’s own platform commitments. Lifting our aid budget to 1% of the Federal Budget would enable a critically-needed increase of investment into all areas of our aid program, including life-saving health and climate resilience initiatives. In an era of increasing global instability, humanitarian catastrophes and climate change, just $1 spent in every $100 will save countless lives.
We also urge the Australian Government to adopt these approaches:
4. Support inclusive and equitable leadership and representation in all climate and health decision-making processes and initiatives.
This must include local communities, First Nations communities, women and gender diverse people, and people with disabilities. These groups are often disproportionately impacted by climate change due to discriminatory social norms - however, they are also primary enablers in strengthening climate and health resilience. Thus achieving inclusion and equality are both goals in their own right as well essential cornerstones in building climate and health resilience.
5. Promote better integration of climate and health in decision-making forums and programs
Our health and our climate are intrinsically linked: Our health depends on a safe climate and a functioning ecosystem; our health systems can be made more sustainable and climate friendly; and many initiatives have co-benefits for both health and climate. Hence it is essential to foster greater integration between climate and health. This includes through key decision-making processes (e.g. UNFCCC and WHO) and through other mechanisms including Australia’s international development program, global One Health collaborations, and partnerships with multilateral development actors such as the Global Fund, Gavi Alliance and Asian Development Bank.
Our recommendations