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Sweltering summer turns up heat on climate change

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Homes turned to ‘hot boxes’, relentless summers, a heat stroke epidemic – that is Australia’s future if climate change continues its current trajectory, according to new Climate Council research.
 
And while recent heatwaves have already sent temperatures soaring well above historical norms, the latest predictions suggest it will only get worse, with Australian capital cities expected to swelter through twice as many days above 35 degrees by the end of this century if nothing changes.
 
Northern Territory GP Dr Brooke Ah Shay has worked in some of Australia’s most remote communities and told newsGP she continues to see many patients presenting with heat stress and dehydration.
 
‘With much higher rates of conditions like chronic kidney disease and heart disease, these patients are particularly medically vulnerable to the consequences of the heat,’ she said.
 
‘Aboriginal people have cultural knowledge on living with the heat, from which we can all learn; however, the body has limitations on how much it can cope with.
 
‘Climate-related illnesses will only increase over time as the nation heats up … over the past few years that I have lived here, the heatwaves in the Territory have been relentless.’
 
The new Climate Council heat map paints a dire picture – with global warming only expected to get worse if nothing changes.
 
The Northern Territory is set to be among the hardest hit, with the research revealing if no action is taken, Darwin will likely experience an additional 92 days above 35 degrees each year by 2050.
 
It says housing in the Top End’s remote communities is often old, badly constructed, and with little insulation, threatening the health of residents in extreme heat.
 
GP and Climate Council Fellow Dr Grant Blashki said Australians are understandably anxious about what lies ahead, with many fearing they will be forced to relocate to seek a safer home.
 
‘This experience goes beyond moving house, it means losing the wonderful support and connections that communities provide,’ he said.
 
‘Climate-fuelled fires and floods present an almost impossible choice for families who are already under severe mental stress after experiencing an extreme weather event: Do they stay in a home with ongoing risks of another fire or flood, or do they relocate? 
 
‘Relocating is an extremely difficult call for families to make, and one that reverberates throughout entire communities.’
 
Brisbane is facing three times as many days above 35 degrees by 2050, while Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, and Western Sydney will all have twice as many.
 
GP and Doctors for the Environment Australia Executive Director, Dr Kate Wylie, said while this extreme heat can be lethal, reducing climate pollution globally could drop the number of scorching days by an average of 20%.
 
‘By embracing renewable energy and cutting climate pollution, we can shield our communities from the worst consequences of extreme heat and safeguard our future health,’ she said.
 
With GPs on the frontline of heat-related illnesses, a new climate change survey has been launched in an effort to uncover the attitudes, knowledge, and behaviours to help design a response to the global threat.
 
The quiz, which is a collaboration between the University of Notre Dame Australia and RACGP Specific Interests Climate and Environmental Medicine, asks GPs about their beliefs, as well as the actions they have taken relating to climate change and health.
 
It includes question such as:

• How concerned are you about the effects of climate change?
• How knowledgeable do you feel about the impact of climate change on health?
• Over the last decade, how much do you think climate change has harmed people in Australia?
• How much do you think climate change is affecting the health of your patients? 

It also asks in what ways climate is impacting patients, including heat exhaustion, injuries from natural disasters, poor nutrition, mental health problems, or asthma.
 
The anonymous answers will help guide support and education resources for GPs and patients.
 
Dr Ah Shay said GPs are perfectly placed to inform climate policy and have the knowledge and qualifications to speak as authorities on the issue.
 
‘We have the unique ability to see the health effects of climate change in our communities by the direct and ongoing interactions we have with patients, being their first medical point of contact and the overall coordinator of their care,’ she said.
 
‘I am concerned about the state of health and wellbeing for all Australians, but especially vulnerable groups, such as First Nation Australians, people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, and the socioeconomically disadvantaged.
 
‘I am concerned about how the unliveability of communities across Australia will affect medical workforce recruitment, particularly in places like the Northern Territory, which struggles the most to attract and retain its health workforce.’
 
Last year, the RACGP ramped up its advocacy for climate action, calling on politicians to do more to protect their citizens from the health impacts of the crisis.
 
It was also part of a coalition of GPs from across the nation which descended on Canberra’s Parliament House, calling for the Federal Government to take action.
 
Dr Ah Shay remains hopeful that change is possible, despite the mounting concerns.
 
‘The response to climate change must occur at an institutional level and requires all levels of government in Australia to act strongly and urgently,’ she said.
 
‘GPs have a responsibility to advocate on this because climate change is a health issue. GPs should advocate for policies that prioritise climate change mitigation and resilience to protect human health, as well as support and empower their communities into taking action.
 
‘On a professional level, GPs will need to identify their at-risk patients and discuss self-management plans for heat illness and extreme weather events.’
 
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climate change environmental medicine global warming

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