AMA Says Climate Change Threatens Public Health

In a briefing to journalists today in Canberra, AMA President Dr. Andrew Pesce urged Copenhagen delegates to plan for the serious threats to human health caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

Failure to effectively address the issue of climate change may lead to a significant burden on the health system according to the Australian Medical Association. Speaking to journalists outside Parliament House on Dec. 9, AMA President Dr. Andrew Pesce spoke of potential for changing disease patterns and increased strain on the health system from acute natural disasters such as bushfires and floods as consequences of climate change. Accepting that human activity has contributed to the current problems faced by the environment, Dr Pesce said:

“It is the AMA’s view that climate change is a significant worldwide threat to human health that requires urgent action.”

The AMA is calling on the Australian government to be a leader in the Oceanic region in planning for the health burden caused by climate change. Dr Pesce called for the implementation of: “systems to detect emerging threats to our health system and put in place infrastructure which can respond appropriately to not just the acute bushfires and floods but also the changing disease patterns.” According to the AMA, the public health problems that may result from climate change include higher incidences of heat related illness, particularly in elderly people and increases in cases of food and water borne diseases. As a result of the current talks in Copenhagen, the AMA would like to see plans developed to manage the public health risks of climate change through a combination of early detection and response measures. In a position statement on climate change and human health, the AMA has identified the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a public health priority and decreasing global greenhouse gas emissions combined with increased use of energy efficient and clean energy technologies may mitigate the risks to public health as a result of climate change.