Australia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy
Georgia Behrens Assistant Director National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
This presentation will discuss Au stralia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy, published in December 2023. The Strategy outlines the Australian Government’s vision for healthy, climate - resilient communities and a sustainable, resilient, high quality, net zero health system.
Georgia is Assistant Director in the Australian Government’s National
Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit. She has worked in climate change and health in a variety of advocacy, research and policy roles. She trained and worked in clinical medicine, before completing an MSc Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as a General Sir John Monash Scholar.
NSW Health’s climate risk response: what have we done and what’s next?
Dr Kate Charlesworth Medical Director Climate Risk & Net Zero Unit, NSW Health
NSW Health has a responsibility and opportunity to transition to a high quality, low carbon health service fit for the future. Kate will provide a brief overview of the key achievements and next steps for the Climate Risk & Net Zero Unit that she leads. NSLHD Planetary Health Framework and carbon footprint Building on the success of the first Planetary Health Framework 2021-2023, NSLHD are proud to launch the Planetary Health Framework 2024-2027. Nicola will provide a summary of the district’s baseline carbon footprint and pathway to net zero that has informed the new Framework, as well as extensive consultation with staff, partners and the local community. Diabetes waste: where can we start? Climate change and the global diabetes pandemic are intrinsically linked. The indirect effects of climate change contribute to the emergence of obesogenic living environments. Healthcare itself then contributes to carbon emissions and waste. In 2021, there were 1.3 million people living with diabetes in Australia, driving 11% of hospital admissions. Diabetes consumables are predominantly single-use and end up in landfill. An average person treated with insulin discards 75 plastic insulin pens per year. This project focussed on reducing pharmaceutical waste through selecting metal, reusable insulin pens rather than single-use plastic.
Kate is a public health physician with additional expertise and experience in climate change and health and decarbonising healthcare. She leads the Climate Risk & Net Zero Unit at NSW Health.
Nicola Groskops Manager Planetary Health, NSLHD
Nicola commenced as the Manager of Planetary Health, an inaugural position for NLSHD, in August 2022, having previously worked in healthy built environments for the district.
As a long-standing climate and health advocate, Nicola hopes to reduce the health impacts of climate change and support the creation of healthy and liveable carbon neutral cities and health systems.
Dr Lyndal Tacon Net Zero Lead, NSLHD Senior Staff Specialist Endocrinology, RNSH Clinical Senior Lecturer, The University of Sydney Northern Clinical School
Lyndal’s clinical practice encompasses general endocrinology. Her Net Zero Lead project has explored prescription of single-use, disposable insulin pens, under the broader goal of reducing pharmaceutical waste. Lyndal’s Ne t Zero Lead position has permitted collaboration with interstate colleagues and has led to the establishment of the Sustainability Interest Group within the Endocrine Society of Australia.
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