Author, Monika Bhatia, is a member of ParraCAN, Sydney, NSW and Climate and Health (CaHA), Victoria. She is also the President of the Women’s Information Network.

 ABSTRACT

National adaptation to climate change will involve the management of health threats related to changing disease patterns, water and food security, sanitation and shelters, migration and population growth. 

Local, national and international efforts need to be integrated in terms of policy, strategies and actions despite uncertainties of scale and the timing of adverse health effects, as well as their nature, location and intensity.

A major strategy thrust is addressing the social determinants of health, particularly health inequities. Inequities in wealth are mirrored by inequities in health as reflected in mortality rates and nutritional levels. 

This paper demonstrates some of the national strategies for adapting to changing climate conditions in Australia.  For example, implications for diseases like Dengue fever, Ross River virus and malaria, as well as susceptibility to thermal stress, and air and water-related diseases. In light of the above, the paper discusses actions that (i) climate change activists may take to promote adaptation to increasing climate change variations; (ii) raise community awareness of the health risks of climate change; and (iii) write, design and develop illustrated materials for strengthening future climate campaigns in relation to coping with health risks.