A WA parliamentary question asks about the Department of Health's awareness of a report on children's health and climate change, and its plans to update its climate change health impact assessment. The response indicates no update is planned but climate change impacts are considered in various initiatives.

AnsweredQoN 752Legislative Council
Asked
11 August 2015
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH — CLIMATE CHANGE —
CHILDREN'S HEALTH
752. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
(1) Is the
minister aware of the Doctors for the Environment Australia's report
titled ''No Time for Games: Children's Health and Climate Change''
launched on 3l May 2015 by Dr Fiona Stanley?
(2) When does the
WA Department of Health plan to revise and update its 2008 health impact
assessment and report titled ''Health impacts of climate change:
Adaptation strategies for Western Australia''?
(3) If the
department has no plans to update this report, what is the department's
current commitment to assess the health impacts of climate change, particularly
regarding children's health at a state level?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) Yes.
(2) No review is planned at this time.
(3) The
Department of Health continues to address the potential health impacts of
climate change as one of the factors it considers when reviewing proposed
developments and policies. Climate change issues have been and are being
addressed in a range of initiatives across the state and local government
sector and although not always highlighted, the potential effects on children
are taken into consideration.
Although the particular
publication referred to has not specifically been updated, the Department of
Health continues to monitor trends and provide input as required into
whole-of-government policies.
The government has updated its
response to particular threats from climate change. By example, the Department
of Health has updated its state emergency plan for the management of heatwave.
The Department of Health also advises local governments to consider potential
impacts from disasters, which includes those potentially related to climate
change, when considering development applications and town planning schemes and
proposals.

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