Climate change, health and wellbeing: challenges and opportunities in NSW, Australia

Abstract

The NSW (New South Wales) Climate Change Policy Framework, launched by the NSW Government in 2016, recognises that climate change presents risks to health and wellbeing. Risks to health and wellbeing come from direct impacts of extreme weather events, and from indirect impacts through effects on air, water, food and ecosystems. Responding to these challenges offers an opportunity to protect and promote health by enhancing environmental amenities, and building adaptive capacity and resilience in populations and systems. To develop policy that effectively protects and promotes health in the face of climate change in NSW it is necessary to define the expected impacts of climate change on health and wellbeing in NSW.

Impacts of Climate Change on Health and Health Services in Northern New South Wales, Australia: A Rapid Review

“…Finally, whole-of-system research is necessary to detail the roles of emergency services, primary care, routine care, and preventative health services under a changing climate [ 9 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 ]. This entails identifying contributions each can make to patient care, public health, psychological support, and other specialised tasks across all phases of disasters (planning, preparedness, response, and recovery).…”

Sea-level rise and mental health among coastal communities: A quantitative survey and conditional process analysis

“…Vulnerable populations, such as communities that depend extensively on natural resources, face higher risks of negative psychological impacts ( Clayton, Manning, Krygsman, & Speiser, 2017 ; Gibson, Haslam, & Kaplan, 2019 ). Coastal communities whose survival often hinges on natural resources and who reside in areas most vulnerable to climate induced SLR face elevated risks ( Hime et al, 2018 ).…”

“…These consequences can vary at both community and individual levels ( Ahmed et al, 2019 ; Sattler, Claramita, & Muskavage, 2018 ). Communities experiencing higher levels of resource loss due to SLR, as well as individuals whose livelihoods are closely tied to natural resources, are at particularly elevated risk ( Clayton et al, 2017 ; Hime et al, 2018 ).…”

Psychological health ramifications of sea-level rise in Bangladesh coastal populations

“…Populations in developing countries, particularly those dependent on natural resources, are especially vulnerable, facing elevated risks of severe psychological distress [14,15] . Wade [16] highlighted factors such as displacement, loss of cultural heritage and livelihoods, financial strain, and jeopardized food and water security that contribute to the emergence of psychoterratic disorders -a spectrum of psychological health conditions triggered by environmental shifts.…”