The Australian government is currently exploring approaches to address health risks related to climate change. A Senate Committee is examining an amendment to the Climate Change Act 2022, which would require lawmakers to consider the health and well-being of children when making significant decisions. The proposed Climate Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity) Bill 2023 would also restrict approvals for mining activities if they pose a material risk of harm to children.
While medical bodies and climate change activist groups have voiced their concerns about the health risks caused by climate change, the issue of how the government would legislate against these risks remains unclear. Labor Senator Karen Grogan questioned how decision-makers would correctly identify project-specific impacts on health in the context of cumulative emissions causing climate change. Dr. Catherine Pendrey from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) did not specifically comment on the functions of the court but highlighted that young people in Australia have taken these issues to court rather than members of the medical profession.
Senator Grogan expressed support for climate change science but raised concerns about the practical implications of the law. She questioned if it would have the intended impact or unintended consequences that could limit the ability to ramp up action on climate change. Dr. Michael Bonning from the Australian Medical Association acknowledged that legislators base their conclusions on available evidence, but he couldn’t comment on internal administrative procedures.
Anjali Sharma, a young climate change activist, acknowledged the difficulty in quantifying the impact of a fossil fuel project but emphasized the cumulative impact of all decisions on future generations. She explained that in a world experiencing warming beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius, it would be impossible to pinpoint one specific decision as the cause of catastrophic consequences.
Dr. Kate Wylie from Doctors for the Environment Australia suggested broadening the scope of Health Impact Assessments to include climate change impacts on children’s health. Heath Darrant, from the Australian Medical Students’ Association, proposed adopting the United Nations’ Child Rights Impact Assessment Model, which has been successfully implemented in Wales and New Zealand.
Overall, the debate surrounding government legislation to address health risks related to climate change is complex. While medical bodies and climate change activists advocate for considering the health and well-being of children in decision-making processes, the practical implementation of such legislation remains uncertain. The use of Health Impact Assessments and the adoption of international models for assessing impacts on health are potential solutions, but further discussions and deliberations are necessary to reach a consensus on effective government action.
