Health impacts of climate change – lessons from WA

Dianne Katscherian

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

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

Climate Change in Western Australia

Decreases in rainfall in the south-west since the 70s

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1925 1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005

Year

mm

1925-1975 average: 323 mm

1976-2003 average: 276 mm

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)

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

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

WA’s action on Climate Change

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

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

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).

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

Department of Health and Climate Change

Climate Projections for WA Climate data from IPCC, CSIRO and IOCI2030 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Role of the Steering Group

These roles include consideration of:1. The implications of climate change on the WA

community

2. The ability of the Department to respond to emergencies associated with climate events

3. The preparedness of the health care system to care for people affected by climate events

4. The requirements of the health system to reduce its greenhouse emissions and environmental footprint

5. Responses to state and national policy on climate change

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

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

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

4. The requirements of the WA Health to reduce its greenhouse emissions and environmental footprintReview 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).

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

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.

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

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)

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

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

Thank You