Health impacts of climate change – lessons from WA

1. Health impacts of climate change – lessons from WA Dianne Katscherian

2. Contents • Climate Change in Western Australia • Climate Change and Health • Department of Health activities • Other Health sector activities in WA • Where are we now? • Some lessons learned

3. Climate Change in Western Australia • SW WA has experienced reduced rainfall since the 1970s (10 – 20% decrease) • Significant impacts on stream flow, water availability and soil moisture • More intense storm events in SW • NW experiencing more severe cyclones extending further south and inland • Gradual increase in average temperatures

4. 1976-2003 average: 276 mm 1925-1975average: 323mm Climate Change in Western Australia • Decreases in rainfall in the south-west since the 70s

5. Climate Change in Western Australia • The Indian Ocean Climate Initiative (IOCI) was established by the WA Government in 1998. • IOCI is a research partnership between the WA State Government, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation CSIRO) and Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). • The research program aims were to investigate the causes of the changing climate and develop projections of future climate in WA • 4 stages to the program: • Baseline and predictability of WA climate and attribution of climate change • Current and future climate of the North west including extreme events • Very-high resolution climate change projections for the South west • Science leadership and support (current projects)

6. Climate Change in Western Australia • The IOCI research program projected (yearly averages) that for south-west WA: • by 2030, rainfall will decrease by two to 20 per cent; • by 2030, summer temperatures will increase by 0.5 to 2.1°C; • by 2030, winter temperatures will increase by 0.5 to 2.0°C; • by 2070, rainfall will decrease by five to 60 per cent; • by 2070, summer temperatures will increase by 1.0 to 6.5°C; and by 2070, winter temperatures will increase by 1.0 to 5.5°C. • Sea level rises are also significant (up ~8mm since 1980s) • The changes have obvious implications for people and their activities

7. WA’s action on Climate Change • The first publication, WA Greenhouse Strategy (GHS) was finalised in 2004 • Committed Government and agencies to respond to measures to address both mitigation and adaptation in WA • Climate Change Unit established within the Department of Environment and Conservation responsible for advising Government on government responses to climate change and climate change policy • Formation of the Climate Change Policy Interdepartmental Steering Group (CCPISG) with representatives from all Government agencies

8. Climate Change and Health • There are many complex interactions associated with potential environmental changes/impacts and human health World Health Organisation (WHO) 2005 (online) http://www.who.int/globalchange/climate/en/index.html

9. Climate change and Health Climate Change has potential to have significant impacts to health (+ve and -ve) Key elements related to: Location of people (work and social environments) Potential environmental changes (arising from changes to climatic conditions) Interaction with the environment (direct impacts) Indirect impacts from existing and future activities and events

10. Climate Change and Health Patz, J.A. et al. The potential health impacts of climate variability and change for the United States: executive summary of the report of the health sector of the U.S. National Assessment. Environ Health Perspect,108(4): 367-76 (2000).

11. Department of Health and Climate Change • The GHS committed WA Health to assess impacts of climate change on population of WA • Undertook Health Impact Assessment of climate change in collaboration with the WHO Centre for Environmental and Health Impact Assessment at Curtin University • Used scenario of probable circumstances in 2030

12. Climate Projections for WAClimate data from IPCC, CSIRO and IOCI 2030 as a starting point for health impact • Expected average temperature increases of 0.50C to 2.00C • Increases in the number of days over 350C in: • South West of +1 to + 20 days (now 27 in Perth) • North West of +10 to +90 days (now 54 in Broome and156 in Halls Creek) • Rainfall changes in: • South-West of 2 to 20% reduction in annual rainfall with a 17% reduction in winter rain days and catchment runoff decreases of 5 to 40% • North-West of annual rainfall decreases of 1.5 to 3.5% • Sea-Level increases of 3 to 17 cm by 2030 and 25 to 75 cm by 2100 • For Extreme Weather Events the following are generally accepted: • Heatwaves – more per year • Droughts – more frequent and severe • Bushfires – increased risk • Flooding – increased intensity • Storms – increased intensity • Tropical Cyclones – increased intensity

13. The Health Impact Assessment Process • Health Impact Assessment, like other forms of impact assessment, is a formalised collaborative process used to consider potential impacts (positive and negative) from activities during their planning stages • The Process follows the format of: • Screening • Scoping • Profiling • Risk Assessment • Risk Management • Decision Making • Evaluation

14. Vulnerability • Vulnerability considered population groups and interactions of people with regions, infrastructure and ecosystems. • People potentially at greater risk of harm from climate change include: • The old, especially >65 years • The young, especially <2 years • The pregnant and breastfeeding • The obese • Those who are not acclimatized e.g. new arrivals • Those who have underlying medical conditions, especially cardiovascular disease • People living in higher risk environments • Manual labourers, outdoor workers, outdoor recreation participants

15. Health impacts identified: • The impacts from environmental changes include: • Health impacts of extreme events • Health impacts of temperature related events • Air Quality Health Impacts • Food-borne diseases • Health Impacts from Food Production • Social/Community/Lifestyle Impacts • Vector-borne diseases • Water-borne diseases

16. Department of Health and Climate Change • Participation by stakeholders from across Government, NGOs and industry • Three significant components: • Identification of health impacts and assessment of current coping capacity • Risk assessments • Development of adaptive responses that could provide Government with the basis for future decision making • Published results in Health Impact Assessment of Climate Change: Adaptation strategies for Western Australia

17. Department of Health and Climate Change • Important that WA Health engaged with climate change responses • Formation of the Health and Climate Change Steering Group (HCCSG) in February 2008 • Chaired by Executive Director Public Health with support from the Environmental Health Directorate • 15 members with representation from all sectors across WA Health

18. Role of the Steering Group • Provide leadership on climate change mitigation and adaptation across the WA Health sector • Support the development of policies • Develop and implement appropriate governance mechanisms • Raise awareness • Liaise with stakeholders • Respond to new initiatives and strategies

19. Role of the Steering Group • These roles include consideration of: • The implications of climate change on the WA community • The ability of the Department to respond to emergencies associated with climate events • The preparedness of the health care system to care for people affected by climate events • The requirements of the health system to reduce its greenhouse emissions and environmental footprint • Responses to state and national policy on climate change

20. 1. Implications of climate change to the WA community • Processes and adaptation strategies for: • Assessment of specific sector vulnerabilities • Formulation of priorities and timetable for action • Collaboration in whole of Government responses • Heat strategy • Working with other sectors to consider social vulnerabilities including: • FESA • Agriculture and Food • Fisheries

21. 2. Ability of the Department to respond to emergencies associated with climate events • Disaster Preparedness and Management Unit (DPMU) set up in 2004 • The Unit has been enhancing WA Health's capability, in terms of equipment, facilities and trained personnel since 2004. • Is important member of State Emergency Management Committee • Considers climate change as key component within planning activities

22. 3. Preparedness of the health care system to care for people affected by climate events • Activities include: • Identification of potential improvements to existing practices • Assessment of surge capacity: • “..a health care system’s ability to manage a sudden or rapidly progressive influx of patients within the currently available resources at a given point in time”. • Confident capable of dealing with large (>500 patient) incident. • Participation in activities to enhance the national capability to respond to disasters

23. 4. The requirements of the WA Health to reduce its greenhouse emissions and environmental footprint Review of current WA Health practices revealed: • Employs over 37 000 employees • Annual budget of over $6.6 billion (2011) • Accounted for 44% of the government’s stationary energy use and spent over $25 million on energy (2006/2007) • One of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, with over 213,000 tonnes of CO2 emitted in (2006/2007) • Hospitals consumed over 1.3 mega litres of water in (2007) and • One of the biggest generators and disposers of single use waste (including single use non-recyclable wastes).

24. Enhancing Sustainability • Activities include: • Proactive planning for future, for example: • New hospitals/facilities must meet Green Star ratings • Identification through reporting of potential improvements to existing practices • Appointment of dedicated staff for Energy policy • Waste policy - reduction/reuse/recycling • Greenhouse gas emissions inventory and reporting

25. Enhancing Sustainability • Metropolitan travel and transport policy • Sustainable procurement policy • Formation of Health Environment Awareness (HEAT) teams in many facilities • Greening WA Health Intranet • Sustainable September activities to: • Raise awareness about environmental, social and economic sustainability in action.

29. Other activities involving Health sector • Local Government: • Health involved in raising awareness about impacts and providing input to risk assessments • Many regional collaborations • National responses: • NCCARF • Human Health management team (2 WA reps) • Raise awareness within resource sector of risks and co-benefits • Health cluster research project (7 in Aus) • Input to National Adaptation Research Plan

30. Other activities involving WA Health sector National • enHealth and Dept Health and Aging • National Adaptation Action Plan • AUSAID Pacific program International • Curtin University WHO Collaborating Centre for EHIA • WHO Climate Change and Health in Pacific program • UNFCCC V&A training (Africa, Middle East and Latin America)

31. Where are we now? • Development of Business Case within WA Health for more FTEs to address sustainability • State Gov Policy Steering group working with Climate Change Unit to : • Develop Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy • Plan and implement next Science program for IOCI • Emphasis on partnerships/collaboration in research projects with Gov • Specific Project: Climatologies of heat stress and fire danger indices for WA • Undertake stock take of WA research

32. Lessons Learned • Health is major element of all CC activities involving people • Climate change is exacerbating existing health issues linked to environmental changes • Those most vulnerable are also those least likely to be able to respond • Impacts from mitigation activities should also be considered • Governments should provide leadership in addressing sustainability • Climate change responses require whole of Government involvement • Assessments of impacts and development of adaptation responses should be integrated

33. Thank You