Climate and Health Alliance

17/08/2026

“We can’t separate health from the effects of climate catastrophe, especially as Pacific people. When we talk about mental health – let alone physical health – there is no escaping the reality that our islands are being destroyed. There’s no separating that reality from the fight for Country here.”
— Rowena MacDonald, Democracy in Colour / Pacific Islands Council of SA

Thank you, Rowena, for stepping in and speaking spontaneously from the heart at our recent event, “Speak Out for Climate & Health”, at the ALP National Conference in Adelaide on Kaurna Country.

We united the voices of health professionals to demand protection of our health through funding for the National Health and Climate Strategy. We spoke with hundreds of ALP delegates about this critical investment.

The health sector has advocated fiercely for the National Health and Climate Strategy for over a decade. Now the Government must follow through and fund it to protect our health.

17/08/2026

CAHA member, The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners(RACGP) has updated its position statement on climate change and planetary health, highlighting the growing impacts of the climate crisis on human health and the environment.

Climate change is a growing health emergency, and general practice has an important role to play in helping communities and healthcare services build climate resilience, while supporting the health sector’s transition to net zero.

The updated statement recognises the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and calls for stronger action to address their impacts on health. It also reaffirms the vital role of general practice in responding to the health impacts of climate change. As comprehensive primary care is high-value, low-carbon care, general practice is well placed to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future.

The RACGP is also advocating for the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coalition on Climate and Health, as recommended by the The Lowitja Institute.

Congratulations to RACGP on this exciting step forward! 👏

Read the updated position statement 👇
https://www.racgp.org.au/advocacy/position-statements/view-all-position-statements/health-systems-and-environmental/climate-change-and-planetary-health

13/08/2026

Today, our Sustainable Healthcare Manager, Dave Chun, joined CAHA Member Healthy Futures in Canberra on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country to launch their new report, All-Electric Healthy Hospitals: A Cost Benefit Analysis.

The report shows that all-electric hospitals are not only possible, but can also provide cleaner, more affordable and reliable energy for patients and healthcare workers. ⚡

With fuel shortages, growing health impacts from coal and gas pollution, and more frequent climate-related events, the need to move away from fossil fuels is becoming increasingly urgent.

We need 100% renewable healthcare powered locally to strengthen energy security, reduce pollution and create healthier environments for patients, workers and communities.

Congratulations to Healthy Futures on the launch of this important report. 👏

Read the full report here 👇
https://www.healthyfutures.net.au/all_electric_healthy_hospitals

With Dr Monique Ryan, Dr Sophie Scamps MP, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Australasian College For Emergency Medicine, Australian Medical Association, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Doctors for the Environment Australia, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, The Australian Federation of Medical Women (AFMW), Lung Foundation Australia

13/08/2026

As we work towards Pre-COP in Fiji and Tuvalu, and COP31 in Türkiye, CAHA and our Members are collaborating with partners across the region to ensure Pacific voices are heard and health remains at the centre of the climate conversation.

"Pre-COP is where the Pacific's lived experience becomes the world's lesson. For Pacific young people, climate change is not a future threat, it is a present daily reality reshaping our islands, our cultures, and our health. We are not just vulnerable; we are strong, innovative, and ready to lead. Our voices must be at the centre of climate and health conversations, because we carry the knowledge of our ancestors and the urgency of our present. The urgency of our futures. COP31 will not be a success unless it listens to the Pacific, and Pre-COP is where that listening must begin. Gathering in the beat of our islands and breathing the air from our reefs."
– Litiana Lagibalavu, CAHA Pacific Partnerships Coordinator

As Litiana reminds us, the Pacific is not simply vulnerable. It is strong, innovative and ready to lead. Pre-COP is an important opportunity to listen to Pacific communities, recognise their knowledge and leadership, and ensure their voices shape the conversations ahead of COP31.

The time to listen and act is now. Later is too late. 🌏

07/08/2026

Breaking: The NT EPA has decided to prosecute INPEX for under-reporting toxic emissions.

This comes after the NT EPA recommended stricter pollution rules for both Santos and INPEX.

It's a welcome step, but it's also the bare minimum. Communities deserve clean air, and companies should never under-report toxic pollution that puts people's health at risk.

This decision reflects years of advocacy to hold polluters accountable. Every step forward matters, but there's still a long way to go. We need a strong federal Clean Air Act and clean air laws that truly protect the air we all share.

Help us keep the pressure on. Donate today to support the next phase of this work. All donations are 100% tax deductible.
👉 caha.org.au/donate

06/08/2026

“Climate change is a health emergency, but the actions we need to take to help Australia mitigate and adapt to climate changes effects, will also help boost the health of our communities"
— Melanie Parker, Public Health Association of Australia

Powerful words and a timely reminder of the importance of public health from Melanie at the recent Australian Labor Party National Conference on Kaurna Country.

Bringing together health professionals, unions, researchers, advocates and health service leaders, we came together with a shared message: it’s time to fund the implementation of the National Health and Climate Strategy.

Backed by our 90-member network and our partners at Renew Australia For All through the Climate Safety Plan, we spoke with hundreds of ALP delegates about why investing in climate resilience is an investment in the future health of Australians.

The conversations reinforced what communities across the country are already experiencing: more frequent extreme heat, floods and storms are impacting health, driving premature deaths, chronic illness and mental health challenges. Without sustained investment in adaptation and preparedness, these impacts will continue to grow, along with the economic costs of responding to climate events.

The message from our health community is clear: we need action.

03/08/2026

At the Australian Labor Party's National Conference on Kaurna Country, we brought together a diversity of health members from unions, nurses, doctors, epidemiologists, public health experts, pharmacy, anaesthetists, researchers, disability advocates, healthy city advocates, nutritionists and health service leads to “speak out” to our unanswered call to fund the implementation of the National Health and Climate Strategy.

Supported by our 90 strong membership and our allies at Renew Australia For All through the Climate Safety Plan: https://renewaustraliaforall.org/what-we-want/climate-safety-plan/ we spoke with hundreds of ALP delegates about this critical investment.

We learned that ALP delegates, tuned into their communities, are hearing the call to resource health services and communities to prepare for a higher frequency of climate events from extreme heat, floods and storms that are driving premature death, chronic illness and mental health impacts. Without sustained investment in adaptation, severe health impacts will be felt and economic costs of climate change will rise sharply. For every $1 not invested now to build resilience and preparedness, up to $10 is needed for response and recovery.

By investing now in Climate Safety, the ALP will send a message that:
🌏 Australian’s health is prioritised in our changing climate
🏥 Our health system will be better able to cope
💰 Smart investment now saves up to 10x times in costs later
❤️ Australians will see better health outcomes
🤝 Other policy areas will see positive co-benefits from investment in our health

With Health Services Union SA/NT. HSU SA/NT, Public Health Association of Australia, Doctors for the Environment Australia Flinders University, ANMF Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha),
Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia,
Psychology for a Safe Climate, Healthy Cities Australia

Thank you to the Kaurna elders, Democracy in Colour,
The Sunrise Project Inc. and Labor Environment Action Networ for supporting our efforts.

Speakers featured: Michelle Isles, Melanie Parker, Kate Wylie, Jacqueline Stephens, Rowena Seutatia MacDonald and Kim Anastasiou.

03/08/2026

CAHA Member Psychology for a Safe Climate Climate have developed Australia’s first structured professional development program for mental health practitioners focused specifically on climate-related emotions, mental health and wellbeing.

The course is grounded in their new Capability Framework for Climate-Aware Practice. It is designed to be applicable across all mental health and wellbeing disciplines (including GPs, psychiatry, allied health, lived experience) and roles including community work, therapy, education, research.

This course includes:
💚 5 self-paced online learning modules
💚 Videos, experiential practices, reflective questions, and case studies
💚 6–8+ hours total learning
💚 Additional resources and toolkit for Climate-Aware Practice

Check it out 👇
https://www.psychologyforasafeclimate.org/how-we-help/professionals/professional-development

Congratulations to Psychology for a Safe Climate for creating such an invaluable program! 👏

14/07/2026

CAHA member ACIPC seeks applicants for their Sustainability in IPC Research Grant 🦠🔬

There's still time to apply for our three ACIPC Research Grants — supporting innovative infection prevention and control research across Australia.

📌 Early Career Research Grant
Designed to support researchers within five years of starting their research career to undertake impactful IPC research.

📌 Seed Grant
Perfect for members looking to conduct pilot, exploratory, or small-scale IPC research — bridging the gap between early ideas and large-scale funding bodies like the NHMRC and ARC.

🌿 Sustainability in IPC Research Grant
A grant dedicated to exploring how we can reduce the environmental impact of infection prevention practices across healthcare and community settings.

⏰ Key Deadlines:
• ECR & Seed Grants — 5PM AEST, Monday 17 August 2026
• Sustainability in IPC Research Grant — 5PM, Friday 18 September 2026

Apply now!

For full details on eligibility and how to apply, visit: https://www.acipc.org.au/research/research-grants/

We can't wait to see the innovative research our members bring forward this year. Good luck to all applicants! 💡

12/07/2026

We welcomed ACIPC to the Climate and Health Alliance in May 🎉🎉

At CAHA, we hear from hospitals and health services that infection prevention and control (IPC) is a sustainability pain point. Many IPC strategies use single-use and disposable items, accompanied by excess packaging, that contribute to substantial amounts of health-related waste. That's why it's so important that ACIPC is committed to creating sustainable IPC solutions across health services.

Great to be working with you, ACIPC!