CHA wants coordinated climate action plan
Catholic Health Australia has called for the next government to assist not-for-profit health and aged care providers tackle the negative effects of climate change, arguing the costs associated with responding to them are rising.
Not-for-profit peak for health, community and aged care providers Catholic Health Australia has called for the next government to help with the associated costs of preparing for and dealing with climate change incidents so they are not passed on to consumers.
CHA chief executive officer Jason Kara said the health and aged care sectors were already facing the impacts of climate change.
“Climate change is a major risk for human health as heatwaves cause heat stress, dehydration, and heart problems, while bushfires, floods and storms damage and disrupt care delivery,” he said.
“Not-for-profit hospitals and aged care services are having to spend more on responding to climate-driven incidents and need support from government to keep services affordable.”
In addition to a national approach to climate planning CHA is calling for:
- greater coordination between government and not-for-profit providers on climate and health risk assessments, adaptation planning, capability building and green procurement guidelines
- a government-led sector-wide decarbonisation roadmap for not-for-profit health and aged care providers
- support for scenario planning and emergency preparedness
- transition to low-carbon operations for the not-for-profit aged care facilities
- consistent waste management policies across jurisdictions for health and aged care providers.
Many hospitals in Australia operate in co-located settings, with public and private facilities existing side by side. However, without a shared strategy, the health sector remains fragmented in its response to climate change, as organisations are unable to share resources, procurement strategies or emergency preparedness plans, the peak said.
“When a climate-driven disaster strikes, health systems need to function as a network, not in silos,” said Mr Kara.
“The next government should support greater collaboration between public and not-for-profit providers to ensure our community’s hospitals and aged care facilities can respond effectively.”
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