On 28 September 2020, over 30 health groups issued a Joint Statement calling on the Federal Health Minister to recognise climate change in the National Preventive Health Strategy, currently in development. The Strategy’s Consultation Paper does not include climate change in its six focus areas.

Proudly co-signed by the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine, the Joint Statement states that, “A National Preventive Health Strategy that is fit for purpose in the 21st century must address climate change — or it will fail in its objectives.”

As an approach to healthcare, Lifestyle Medicine provides an interdisciplinary, whole-system approach to the prevention and reversal of chronic and lifestyle-related diseases through the modification of the behavioural, social and environmental drivers. Importantly, this involves addressing the upstream determinants of disease; promoting health equity, environmental sustainability, social justice and corporate responsibility. 

Today, this must include urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and circumvent the negative effects of climate change on human health and wellbeing. 

“The World Health Organization has described climate change as the defining issue for public health in the 21st century, and it poses significant immediate, medium-term and long-term risks to the health of Australians and communities around the world.

“The goal of the National Preventive Health Strategy should be to tackle the systems that undermine positive health and wellbeing. These include social, environmental, commercial and political determinants of health. As with unhealthy food, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, and alcohol, it is critical that the role of vested interests in relation to climate change is identified as undermining efforts to prevent illness and promote health and wellbeing. In addition to investment in a skilled workforce and systems to deliver positive outcomes, this must be addressed as part of the National Preventive Health Strategy.”