Report of the
Lancet Countdown
The latest report from the Lancet Countdown Oceania tracks progress on health and climate change in Australia. The results highlight the health and economic costs of inaction on health and climate change.
The sixth iteration of the Australia report, it monitors progress across 25 indicators in five domains.
This report was compiled with the contribution of 25 experts from 15 institutions across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.
Key Messages
Climate change making extreme weather events more frequent and intense
Large scale catastrophic events including floods and bushfires are bringing major health and wellbeing consequences. A series of major floods across the four eastern states of Australia in 2022 was the main contributor to insured losses from climate-related catastrophes of $7.168 billion — the highest amount on record. The floods directly caused 23 deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of people.
Intolerable rate of emissions from energy and healthcare sectors threatening health
Australia’s energy system continues to be a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, characterised by a high dependence on coal. The health care sector’s emissions have significantly increased, necessitating urgent action to reduce its carbon footprint.
Political momentum for climate and health action must be realised
Increased political engagement, adaptation planning, and commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions signal an opportunity to make progress with respect to health and climate change action. The urgency of substantial further enhancements in Australia’s mitigation and adaptation responses to the enormous health and climate change challenge cannot be overstated.
Explore key findings of this year’s report
The 2023 Australia report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: taking stock for a thriving future
HEALTH HAZARDS, EXPOSURES, AND IMPACTS
A changing climate has profound implications for human health, with more frequent heat waves and extreme weather events, changing patterns of infectious disease transmission, deterioration of food and water resources, impacts on socioeconomic conditions, and the exacerbation of existing health challenges around the world. Indicators in this section track the multiple ways in which climate change threatens human health and wellbeing.
1.4 Drought
May 2023 was Australia’s second-driest May on record.
Exposure to very high or extremely high bushfire danger increased considerably since 2003.
Heatwave intensity has increased by 35% over the last 20 years.
ADAPTATION, PLANNING, AND RESILIENCE FOR HEALTH
With climate change increasingly threatening the health and wellbeing of populations in every country, actions to build resilience and adapt to climate change are urgently needed. This section tracks how communities, health systems, and governments are understanding the health risks of climate change, the strategies and resources they are deploying, and how adaptation and resilience measures are being implemented globally.
2.1 Health adaptation plans and assessments
New national, state, territory, and health sector level frameworks and strategies signal increased engagement with health and climate change.
2.4 Migration and displacement
167,743 people in Australia live less than one metre above sea level, an increase of almost 4,000 on the number in our previous annual report.
Australia’s internationally reported health emergency management capacity remains suboptimal.
MITIGATION ACTIONS AND HEALTH CO-BENEFITS
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to limit the health threats of climate change. Simultaneously, many of the interventions required to mitigate and adapt bring enormous benefits for human health and wellbeing in the form of cleaner air, healthier diets, and more liveable cities. Tackling climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century. Indicators in this section track the world’s efforts to mitigate climate change, and the health benefits of this response.
3.4 Sustainable and healthy transport
Fossil fuels still play a significant and leading role in the transport sector.
3.2 Clean household energy
Household solar contributes to about one-quarter of total renewable energy generation.
3.6 Diet and health co-benefits
Thousands of lives could be saved in Australia each year by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and lowering population level meat consumption.
ECONOMICS AND FINANCE
The health impacts of climate change have profound economic implications. This section tracks the economic costs of the health impacts of climate change and its drivers, as well as the extent to which the world’s economy and financial systems are enabling the transition to a health-promoting, zero-carbon economy.
4.1 Economic losses due to climate-related extreme events
For 2022, actual total annual insured losses from catastrophes were $7.168 billion — the highest amount on record.
In 2021, Australia’s total fossil fuel subsidies were reported to be $8 billion.
Growth in the reported divestment from fossil fuels in Australia is slow, with limited engagement by health care institutions.
PUBLIC AND POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
Public and political engagement underpins the foundations of the world’s collective response to climate change, with reductions in global emissions at the speed required by the Paris Agreement depending on engagement from all sectors of society. The indicators in this section track the links between health and climate change in the media, national governments, the corporate sector, and the broader public.
5.2 Scientific engagement in health and climate change
There were 407 new scientific publications on health and climate change in Australia in 2022, a 75% increase from 2021.
5.1 Media coverage of health and climate change
The total number of newspaper articles on health and climate change in 2022 (306) increased by 65% compared with 2021 (186).
5.3 Government engagement in climate and health
In 2022, there was no legislation introduced to parliament that addressed climate change as a health issue, nor were there any committees or inquiries.
Director of the Lancet Countdown Oceania
“The 2023 Australia Lancet Countdown report highlights some significant steps forward in Australia’s response to the health and climate change crisis, but it also concludes that urgent and substantial further action is required to safeguard Australia and the health of its people.”