Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare

The Commission recognises the importance of delivering sustainable healthcare and reducing harm from environmental impacts.

Climate change and health

Health is not separate from our environment. Air quality, disease, access to care, medical resources and safe clean spaces are all products of our environment and impact our health.

The delivery of clinical care contributes to negative impacts in the global climate through practices such as unnecessary or even harmful tests, procedures or interventions; inefficient use of resources; poor waste management; inefficient procurement of products; unnecessary travel; unregulated energy and water use; and inappropriate polypharmacy.

These activities create emissions which increase greenhouse gases and average temperature, posing risks to health through air pollution, allergens, heat-related illness, vector-borne diseases, forced migration and water and food supply.

Image depicting the health outcomes from climate change

^Source:^{https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240081888}

The increase in extreme weather events, such as floods, bushfires, storms and droughts, poses additional risks for health services to deliver high-quality health care in challenging circumstances. It’s important health services understand and reduce the risks of climate change on health to preserve the ongoing delivery of safe, high-quality care.

Image depicting health impacts with a circle of rising temperatures, leading to more extreme weather, leading to rising sea levels, leading to increasing carbon dioxide levels and then repeating.

^Source:^{https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/default.htm}

Joint Statement on Climate Change and Health

In an Australian first, the Commission has signed a Joint Statement in partnership with the interim Australian Centre for Disease Control, Australian Medical Colleges and the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association. This statement represents a shared commitment to addressing the health impacts of climate change.

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Our work

The Commission supports sustainability and resilience in health care by:

developing national safety and quality standards and frameworks
promoting high-quality care pathways
supporting best practice
exploring and highlighting healthcare variation
developing indicators to monitor progress.

Learn more

See the specific programs of work that supports sustainable, resilient and high-quality care:

National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards

Several actions under the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards support health service organisations to address their environmental impact. However, greater attention is needed for health services to develop mature safety and quality systems that support adaptation and mitigation of environmental and climate risks.

Environmental sustainability

Mitigating processes, practices and services that have high environmental impact ensures an environmentally sustainable way of providing appropriate care and reducing waste.

Actions in the NSQHS Standards where adaptation and mitigation strategies can be integrated
Action 4.14	Safe disposal of unused, unwanted or expired medication mitigates impact on the environment
Action 5.20	Shared decision making around end-of-life care ensures quality care is received and mitigates unnecessary interventions and resource use is avoided

Climate resilience

Adapting health services by identifying environmental risks means the sector is more climate resilient and able to respond to the needs of those most effected by climate change.

Actions in the NSQHS Standards where adaptation and mitigation strategies can be integrated
Action 2.11	Partnering with those in the local community in healthcare design, measurement and evaluation adapts health services in climate resilience
Action 2.11	Aggression has been correlated with increased heat. Incorporating climate factors in strategies to identify and mitigate situations that may support health services to adapt strategies for precipitating aggression

Healthcare Sustainability and Resilience Module

As part of our shared commitment to addressing the health impacts of climate change. The Commission has developed the Healthcare Sustainability and Resilience Module (the Module) to address healthcare impacts on the environment and the climate risks that affect health outcomes and access to care. The Module is designed to be implemented along with the safety and quality standards developed by the Commission, such as the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.

Better Care Everywhere

Quality Use of Medicines

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