Media Release

2 November 2006

Climate change a major health concern

The Australian Nursing Federation has joined calls for action on climate change in the wake of the UK Stern Review which warns failure to address the effects of global warming may cripple the global economy and threaten future human existence.

‘The Australian Nursing Federation holds serious concerns for population health if measures to reduce the devastating effects of climate change are not addressed,’ ANF Federal Secretary Jill Iliffe said.

Australia is already feeling the effects of climate change, Ms Iliffe said, with drought, water shortages, rising temperatures, and an increase in infectious diseases all indicating global warming.

The Stern Review presents evidence that rising sea levels threaten to displace one-sixth of the world’s population; declining crop yields will affect global food supply; and deaths from heat, malnutrition and vector borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever, will rise as global temperatures increase.

‘The Review warns that climate change will affect the basic elements of life – access to food, water, and health throughout the world. All countries will be affected,’ Ms Iliffe said. ‘Action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is now urgent.

‘If action is taken now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, costs could be limited to around 1% of global GDP, according to the Stern Review, but would reach 20% of GDP in the future, with damage difficult or impossible to reverse.’

The ANF is calling on the Australian Government to show leadership by committing to urgent policy action to prevent the devastating impact of climate change on human health, Ms Iliffe said.

‘Australia is the highest per capita producer of greenhouse gases in the world after Luxembourg according to a new UN OECD report,’ Ms Iliffe said. ‘As a wealthy developed nation, we have a responsibility to act as a mature global citizen, and cut our greenhouse gas emissions.’

Media inquiries
Jill Iliffe, Federal Secretary  0419 576 590
Ged Kearney, Assistant Federal Secretary 0417 053 322