Joint Statement on Climate Change and Health
In an Australian first, the Commission has signed a Joint Statement: Working together to achieve sustainable high-quality health care in a changing climate, which represents a shared commitment to address the health impacts of climate change.
We partnered with the interim Australian Centre for Disease Control, all specialist medical colleges and the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association in this historic agreement.
Released 1 October 2024
2024Publication, report or update
About the Joint Statement
The Commission, in partnership with the interim Australian Centre for Disease Control and Australian medical colleges, has released an historic Joint Statement that signifies a shared commitment to address the health impacts of climate change. All specialist medical colleges affiliated with the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges and the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association have endorsed the Joint Statement.
The Joint Statement: Working together to achieve sustainable high-quality health care in a changing climate, recognises that climate change poses profound and urgent challenges to physical and mental health.
The health system is responsible for around 5% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, with clinical care contributing more than half of these emissions.* The Joint Statement outlines actions to support clinicians to deliver high-value care that protects and promotes health in a changing climate.
* Department of Health and Aged Care. The National Health and Climate Strategy. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2023
- Ministerial media statement
The Joint Statement is supported by The Hon Ged Kearney MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health.
- Communications kit
Ready-to-share content for your website and social networks, including graphic tiles, messaging for social media and newsletter content.
Actions to address the health impacts of climate change
The Commission leads and coordinates key improvements in safety and quality in health care across Australia. A key part of our work is to improve the appropriateness and sustainability of health care.
Current initiatives include:
- Environmental Sustainability and Climate Resilience Healthcare Module
The Commission is piloting a framework to support health service organisations to address climate risks and reduce healthcare’s contribution to climate change, to be released in 2025.
- Clinical Care Standards
The clinical care standards support appropriate care by describing how clinicians and healthcare services can provide care for specific conditions based on the best available evidence.
- Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation Series
The Atlas series supports appropriate care by mapping healthcare use and identifying potential unwarranted variation in health care delivery across Australia.
- User Guide for Reviewing Clinical Variation
This user guide supports health service organisations to implement Action 1.28 of the NSQHS Standards, to identify potentially unwarranted variation and ensure appropriate clinical care.