Climate change and planetary health position statement

Page last updated 11 August 2026

The RACGP:

Climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution are significant threats to mental and physical health particularly to those people who are more vulnerable through age, pre-existing illness or social circumstances.

This position statement commits the RACGP to:

  • supporting general practices to meet and surpass RACGP standards for environmental sustainability in general practice
  • reducing its own environmental impact
  • building resilience within RACGP and in Australian general practices to respond to the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution
  • ensuring GP education and training, both prior to and post-fellowship, equip GPs with the knowledge and skills to support patients and communities to:
    • reduce their own environmental impact, particularly when this is a co-benefit of behaviours that improve health
    • respond to impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution on health
  • supporting general practice research to inform RACGP and general practice responses to climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.


The RACGP calls on Federal and State Governments

In making its own commitment to tackling the impacts of climate change, the RACGP calls on federal and state and territory governments to:

  • adopt a ‘health-in-all-policies’ approach that maximises the synergies between climate policy, health policy and the wider determinants of health
  • fully fund the implementation of the Australian Centre for Disease Control National Health and Climate Strategy
  • commit to a ‘net zero’ healthcare system by 2040 with the majority of greenhouse gas emissions cuts by 2030
  • introduce legislation to require government to consider the health and wellbeing of current and future children when making decisions likely to result in substantial greenhouse gas emission increases and contribute to climate change
  • end expansion of any new fossil fuel infrastructure and production, phase out existing production and use of fossil fuels and remove fossil fuel subsidies, investing in renewable energy
  • adopt legislation and regulation to prevent communities experiencing detrimental health effects from harmful exposure to air pollution.


Definitions

Climate change is the long-term change in climate patterns at global and regional scales, currently largely driven by increases in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which increase the greenhouse effect.1

Biodiversity loss is the reduction in the variety and abundance of life on Earth, encompassing genetic, species and ecosystem levels. This decline reflects a reduction in nature's functional capacity to deliver ecosystem services, such as pollination, climate regulation, water purification and nutrient cycling. It highlights the ecological interdependence of species and the need to maintain biodiversity for human wellbeing.2

Planetary health is the health of human civilisation and the state of the natural systems on which human civilisation depends.3


Summary

This position statement supports and extends the advocacy objectives set out in the RACGP's Advocacy Plan 2026 -30, which highlights climate change policy in RACGP's broader policy agenda,4 and acknowledges the RACGP's 6th edition standards and the inclusion of criteria for environmental sustainability in general practice.5

Climate change is caused by the use of fossil fuels and is a major and growing threat to health in Australia and around the globe.6,7 Most Australians have had their health and wellbeing impacted by climate change, including through:

  • short and long term consequences of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, floods, droughts, bushfires and storms.8
  • negative effects on the social determinants of health, including reduced access to fresh fruit and vegetables, reduced opportunities for outdoor physical activity9,10 and increased housing insecurity.11
  • increased spread of infectious diseases including diarrhoeal diseases5 and mosquito borne-disease such as Japanese encephalitis.12
  • detrimental impacts on mental health, including increased suicide rates.13,14

The triad of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution are linked as threats to planetary health, and they threaten the foundations of human health and wellbeing, such as clean air and water and protection from natural hazards.15

The negative impacts on planetary health disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, while Indigenous knowledges have critical roles in demonstrating environmentally sustainable models of health and healthcare.16 Responding to climate change requires meaningful consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As the most accessed health profession in the country, general practitioners (GPs) have essential roles to play in safeguarding population health from climate change including:

  • reducing the carbon emissions generated by the health sector particularly through reducing the need for non-GP specialist and hospital-based health services;17,18
  • reducing the emissions of general practice care;19
  • working to overcome mis- and disinformation that contribute to challenges of responding to climate change;20,21
  • supporting communities to be resilient to climate impacts by promoting health as well as participating in disaster preparedness, response and recovery;22
  • advocating for urgent action to safeguard health from climate change, including the non-proliferation and phase out of fossil fuels;23
  • advocating for the necessary supports for individuals and communities disproportionately affected by impacts and disruption of climate change to secure a just and equitable transition to a renewable economy.23

As community leaders GPs and the RACGP have important responsibilities in advocating for government at all levels to implement policies to protect human health from risks of climate change.4


Discussion

Health impacts of climate change

Climate change is an unprecedented threat to health and human survival.7 Burning fossil fuels is the main cause of climate change. Together with changes in land use, especially deforestation, fossil fuel combustion increases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Increased levels of greenhouse gases hold heat near the surface of the earth, driving global heating and disrupting planetary systems, including ocean circulation, prevailing winds, precipitation and cloud cover. Sea levels are rising, exacerbating coastal flood risk and threatening to inundate coastal regions, which is a significant threat to nearby densely populated regions and small island states.24

Climate change affects human health directly and indirectly in a myriad of ways. Higher temperatures and heatwaves increase morbidity and mortality, particularly among vulnerable groups such as older people, children and those with pre-existing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and mental ill health as well as those experiencing poverty, homelessness and social isolation.25,26 Other direct effects include injuries, drownings, psychological morbidity and increased burden of chronic disease from increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather events.25 Indirect impacts result from interactions of climate with other systems. Examples include declining agricultural yields and quality caused by drought, resulting in poorer nutrition despite higher caloric intake; and changes in the distribution of vectors that spread infectious disease, caused by changes in temperatures and rainfall. Extreme weather events and other climate impacts are also having detrimental effects on people's livelihoods and contributing to wider social disruption. These impacts can contribute to forced relocation and migration, as well as interpersonal and larger scale conflict.27 Figure 1 illustrates the range of impacts of climate change on health.29 Every increment of global heating increases risk. Limiting global heating to 1.5⁰C, rather than 2⁰C, could reduce the number of people exposed to climate-related risks and poverty by hundreds of millions.28

Figure 1: Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health

Figure 1: Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health29

Vulnerability to the impacts of climate change depends on biological, social, economic and geographic factors. Climate change is increasing inequality, because our ability to respond and adapt is determined by our material, social and health resources.7 Those experiencing socio-economic disadvantage, poverty, insecure or inadequate housing and those with pre-existing conditions affecting their physical and mental health are at increased risk.30 People in rural and remote communities are more likely to experience these inequities, often face greater exposure to extreme weather events and have less access to support from health and emergency services.31 Many people who live in remote areas already experience insecure access to basic essential services including electricity, water and refrigeration as well as housing that provides inadequate thermoregulation. In these settings climate change is exacerbating already dangerous circumstances and threatening to displace entire communities.15,32

Despite the evidence about climate change that has been clear since the 1970s, societies have not responded effectively, partly because of challenges in understanding and communicating the issues. Misinformation and error, and disinformation from the deliberate provision of incorrect and misleading information have contributed to mistrust of science, confusion about climate change, and increased risk from climate change.20 However, there is a growing body of research and evidence on how to overcome mis- and dis-information. The trust in health professionals such as GPs contributes to our role in supporting and promoting individual and societal responses.21


Planetary Health

Alongside climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss constitute the triple planetary health crisis, which threatens the environmental life support services essential to maintaining human health and wellbeing. Air pollutants that are driving climate change are also directly harmful to our health. Air pollution is estimated to cause over 3200 deaths in Australia each year,33 with air pollution from fossil fuels (fine particulate matter PM2.5) responsible for one-in-five deaths globally.34 Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the first 20 years after its release.35 Its use in household gas stoves is estimated to be responsible for 12% of childhood asthma in Australia.36 There is increasing recognition of the health impacts of plastics which are estimated to contribute 4.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and generate waste that disrupts ecosystems and human health.37 Many plastic products used in healthcare contain toxic chemicals that have endocrine disrupting, carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic properties. Recent studies have identified microplastics in a range of human tissues, including the lungs, placenta, and in blood.38 The health sector is currently contributing to the degradation of the health of people and the planet through environmentally unsustainable practices. However, the health sector can also demonstrate leadership in the transition to net zero healthcare founded on circular economy principles. The health sector can model sustainable planetary health practices, including how to transition away from fossil fuels and toxic chemicals.39


First Nations Australians

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have practised sustainable custodianship of Australia's environment and demonstrated resilience to harsh environmental conditions. Nonetheless, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples are being disproportionately impacted by climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. This is due to ongoing social, economic and health inequities underpinned by systemic injustices, both historical and present, including in relation to interactions with the healthcare system. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples whose holistic conceptualisation of health is rooted in connection to Country, climate change and unprecedented environmental degradation have significant implications. For example, the loss of culturally significant sites and forced displacement may have profound impacts on community health. It is vital that responses to climate change and the planetary health crisis address underlying inequities and involve partnerships led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's sustainable custodianship of Country should be an example for the broader recognition of ecological determinants of health and adoption of sustainable practices, including within healthcare.16,40


The role of GPs

All general practices can take action to reduce their environmental impact and help to manage the current and future adverse health effects of climate change. Best practice clinical care that holistically promotes physical, social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB), and includes activities that facilitate connection to and caring for Country, will support the health of patients, communities and the planet for future generations'.40 Sustainable innovation can increase workplace satisfaction and reduce practice overheads as well as improving patient care through the reduction of low value care.

RACGP resources include "Environmental sustainability in general practice", providing support for practices to reduce their environmental impact while improving outcomes for patients and staff.5 Respiratory metred-dose inhalers (MDIs) are a particularly high source of greenhouse gas emissions. Their use can be reduced through best-practice asthma management, including: ensuring accurate diagnosis with lung function testing; improving disease control to reduce reliance on reliever therapy; and switching to dry-powder inhalers, where appropriate.41

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