Following the release of Australia's National Health and Climate Strategy at the 28th United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) in Dubai in 2023, the Albanese Labor Government is investing $5 million in targeted research to ensure our health system can meet the challenges of climate change.
Climate change presents a serious health and wellbeing challenge to Australians. We are seeing tropical diseases heading south, more frequent floods and bushfires, and scorching heats across Summer months. The World Health Organization has described climate change as the greatest threat to global health this century.
Research grants of up to $1 million per application into climate-related health impacts and effective interventions to improve health outcomes will be made available via a Targeted Call for Research (TCR) through the National Health and Medical Research Council.
The health system is increasingly being used to support Australians impacted by climate change and extreme weather events. Smoke from the Black Summer Bushfires is estimated to have affected 80 per cent of Australians and caused at least 417 premature deaths and more than 3,000 hospital admissions.
This targeted research aims to build Australia as a global leader in climate and health research.
The investment will accelerate evidence-based interventions specific to Australian settings, reduce health impacts associated with climate-events in Australia, and reduce the impacts of climate change on our health system.
The Grant Opportunity Guidelines are available now on Grant Connect.
Applications will close Wednesday 15 May 2024 at 17:00 AEST.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care the Hon Ged Kearney MP:
"From extreme heat to more devastating floods, climate change is forever changing Australia's environment and how we live. We need a health system that is equipped to deal with the serious health and wellbeing challenges presented by the climate emergency.
"Investing in health and medical research will help Australia improve our health system's ability to deal with climate change and improve climate-related health outcomes.
"It's all about looking at the science, listening to experts, investing in research and acting to support Australia's health and climate."
Quotes attributable to NHMRC CEO Professor Steve Wesselingh:
"Human health is strongly influenced by the health of the environments in which we live in."
"NHMRC is committed to improving Australia's preparedness and responsiveness to the threats that climate changes and extreme environmental events present to our communities."
"This targeted funding investment will help boost Australia's capacity and capability in climate-related health and medical research, helping to build a resilient and responsive heath system."
