Impacts of Climate Change on Health and Health Services in Northern New South Wales, Australia: A Rapid Review

Grace W Lee; Kristina Vine; Amba-Rose Atkinson; Michael Tong; Jo Longman; Alexandra Barratt; Ross Bailie; Sotiris Vardoulakis; Veronica Matthews; Kazi Mizanur Rahman

doi:10.3390/ijerph20136285

Impacts of Climate Change on Health and Health Services in Northern New South Wales, Australia: A Rapid Review

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jul 3;20(13):6285. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20136285.

Authors

Grace W Lee^{1

2}, Kristina Vine^{1

3}, Amba-Rose Atkinson^{1

4}, Michael Tong^{3

5}, Jo Longman^{1

3

6}, Alexandra Barratt^{2

3}, Ross Bailie^{3

7}, Sotiris Vardoulakis^{3

5}, Veronica Matthews^{1

3}, Kazi Mizanur Rahman^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ University of Sydney, University Centre for Rural Health, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
² School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
³ Healthy Environments And Lives (HEAL) National Research Network, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
⁴ School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
⁵ College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
⁶ Sydney Environment Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
⁷ School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.

Abstract

Climate change is exposing populations to increasing temperatures and extreme weather events in many parts of Australia. To prepare for climate challenges, there is a growing need for Local Health Districts (LHDs) to identify potential health impacts in their region and strengthen the capacity of the health system to respond accordingly. This rapid review summarised existing evidence and research gaps on the impact of climate change on health and health services in Northern New South Wales (NSW)-a 'hotspot' for climate disaster declarations. We systematically searched online databases and selected 11 peer-reviewed studies published between 2012-2022 for the Northern NSW region. The most explored health outcome was mental health in the aftermath of floods and droughts, followed by increased healthcare utilisation due to respiratory, cardiovascular and mortality outcomes associated with bushfire smoke or heat waves. Future research directions were recommended to understand: the compounding impacts of extreme events on health and the health system, local data needs that can better inform models that predict future health risks and healthcare utilisation for the region, and the needs of vulnerable populations that require a whole-of-system response during the different phases of disasters. In conclusion, the review provided climate change and health research directions the LHD may undertake to inform future adaptation and mitigation policies and strategies relevant to their region.

Keywords: Australia; Northern New South Wales; climate change; health impact; health services.

Publication types

Systematic Review
Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia
Climate Change*
Disasters*
Health Services
New South Wales

Grants and funding

This research comes from a part of a commissioned Evidence Check funded by the Northern NSW Local Health District with the support of the Sax Institute. M.T. and S.V. receive funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (HEAL National Research Network, Grant No. 2008937).