Joint statement on climate change and health

04 October 2024

The college has signed an historic joint statement to reduce the health system’s carbon emissions.

This shared commitment is an Australian first with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (Commission), interim Australian Centre for Disease Control (interim CDC), Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) representing all medical colleges, and the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA).

The Joint Statement: Working together to achieve sustainable high-quality health care in a changing climate recognises that climate change poses profound and urgent challenges to physical and mental health.
The joint statement outlines how the health system can reduce its own environmental impact by delivering appropriate and sustainable health care.

The Commission, the interim CDC, all medical colleges and AIDA have agreed to work together to:

• Develop low-emissions models of care that prioritise prevention, reduce low-value tests and treatments and minimise emissions from high-value care
• Mobilise and support the health workforce to lead the health system response to climate change.

This shared commitment will enable us to work together to achieve a more sustainable health system for the people of Australia.

This Joint Statement further strengthens ANZCA’s commitment, actions and measures to minimising the health impact of climate change, promoting environmental sustainability and reducing its environmental impact. Further information on ANZCA and Environmental Sustainability Network’s actions is located here.