Posted by Rosalind Simpson for Health Care Without Harm, December 8th, 2014 Health Care Without Harm Europe's Climate Policy and Membership Officer Kornelia Bagi - in Lima, Peru Health Saturday at COP 20 The third Global Climate and Health Summit took place on Saturday 6 December in downtown Lima as a side event to the UNFCCC negotiations. The event organised by the Global Climate and Health Alliance (a global coalition working to tackle climate change and to protect and promote...

Protecting health from climate change: what's needed? Held at the University of NSW in Sydney on the 25th November 2014, this public seminar revealed the extent to which the health of local and global communities is increasingly threatened by climate change. It featured expert speakers on climate and health, policy shortfalls, technological and political solutions and the role of divestment in limiting national and global emissions. If you missed out on this event you can watch videos of each of...

Greening the healthcare sector Think Tank 14 October 2014 Mater Hospital, Brisbane A discussion by the health sector about accelerating progress towards sustainable healthcare and hospital practices You can now download the full report Background The third annual Think Tank provided the opportunity for the health care sector to discuss case studies of change, national and international opportunities for collaboration, and contribute to a discussion to accelerate progress towards sustainable healthcare and hospital practices. The Think Tank was hosted by...

Dear Friends and Colleagues,  As you know, the G20 Leaders Summit is on this weekend in Brisbane and world leaders are gathering to talk about issues ranging from development, employment, taxation, infrastructure, investment and trade. But not climate change. Meanwhile the coal industry is at the G20, working to secure greater subsidies and less regulation of their deadly product. Coal causes hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each year, largely from exposure to air pollution from coal fired power plants...

It is with great sadness that CAHA received news of Professor Emeritus A.J. (Tony) McMichael's death last week from complications associated with influenza. It is no understatement to say the climate and health world globally is reeling from the loss of a giant among men, a visionary intellectual, public health champion and extraordinary human being. His colleague and friend Professor Colin Butler has penned the following blog, which is being updated with tributes: click to read the blog Melissa Sweet...

Hosted by Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) and Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) in partnership with Global Green and Healthy Hospitals   Event Title: ˜The Health Sector as a Leader in Low Carbon Transformation' When: Tuesday 14th October 2014 Where: Mater Hospital, South Brisbane Featuring case studies and experts on the following themes: Building healthy and sustainable healthcare infrastructure Waste not “ the transformation of disposal in healthcare Engaging others “ making sustainability everyone's business Building a national and global...

CAHA has been working to raise awareness about the health risks from climate change and the health benefits from lowering emissions since 2010. Its' work during that time has largely been supported by pro bono and in-kind support, as well as some donations from individuals and philanthropic organisations. However an impediment to raising funds for CAHA as a charity has been its lack of 'tax deductible' status or 'deductible gift recipient (DGR)' status for donations. There is a bit of...

By Chris Hill, Director of Environmental Sustainability, Mater Published 5 May 2014 on Sustainability At Work The priority of our team at Mater Health Services will always be the delivery of exceptional care to patients. That raises the question "Why focus on sustainability?" I for one believe the two are not mutually exclusive, and in fact often ask why you would not focus on this area, which can return financial savings that can be reinvested into patient care. These savings...

Webinar with Tsetsegsaikhan Batmunkh from the Ministry of Health in Mongolia who will discuss the steps her country is taking to adapt and mitigate the health impacts of climate change. Monday 21st July 2014 at 12pm-1.00pm - Please note you will need a microphone and speakers to join using your computer, and need to download the Webex software in order to join. Join the webinar (please try and join about 5-10 minutes prior) Event number: 641 660 046 Event password:...

By Dr Liz Hanna, Australian National University Posted by the Fifth Estate on 16 May 2014 The first federal budget from the Abbott government very clearly demonstrated its ideology to the Australian public, which it kept carefully under wraps prior to the election, along with repeated promises of "no surprises" and "no cuts", while they lauded the merits of "trust". So Australia now has a government under false pretenses. Sly manoeuvring includes cuts of $50 billion to hospitals, forcing cash-strapped...