Thread by @_PHAA_

We're about to start our live session, 'Planetary and Climate Health' with experts from @UTAS_ @UTAS_MPH, @ANUPopHealth @scienceANU and @DeakinHealth @Deakin. We'll live tweet #AustPH2021

First presenter is Prof Fay Johnson (UTAS) who is explaining safer air for public health in Australia, and fire. How we use fire determines everything else. #AustPH2021

Just like the west of Nth America, we are getting more fires, means more air pollution, and fires in places that never used to burn, eg Tasmanian rainforests, Prof Johnson says. #AustPH2021

Most air pollution harms in Australia comes from low level and duration. Not accurate to compare Australia's air pollution to Beijing, for example. #AustPH2021

Particulate matter drives the health effects at a population level, eg be it crossing a road, bush fires, gas fired cooktops in kitchens. These are all causing harms. #AustPH2021

It's all about your underlying risks. Short term can mean hours or a few days. Asthmatics are at particular risk during any small increase in air pollution, Prof Johnson says #AustPH2021.

We used to say long term meant years, but it's now a matter of weeks. Eg what we learned from Hazelwood fire, Prof Johnson says.

Prof Johnson says the public health impacts depends overwhelmingly on size of population. Eg, probs in Sydney are more common than in a rural area #AustPH2021 .

People with lung problems notice bad air pollution almost straight away.

Here's the cost of annual bushfire smoke over 20 years, compiled by Prof Johnson and her team. Most impacts because so many people exposed to bad air for so long. #AustPH2021

Our energy sources must be safe and sustainable. Wood heaters pollute the atmosphere. This study shows it's the top source of #Sydney attributable deaths by air pollution. We need emission standards that reflect real world conditions, not factory settings.

We need to think about the health effects of our energy sources, the public health effects of each, and how to manage them. Sustainable and safe landscape burning studies show benefits including better air quality, physical and mental health benefits. #Darwin #AustPH2021.

Most air pollution in #Darwin comes from savannah burning. Worsening air quality from dry season burning. Darwin is now the most air polluted capital in Australia, Prof Johnson says. #AustPH2021

Work with communities to burn fuel safely. Comparisons between Hobart and Sydney experiences. Better communications to populations will help, eg alerts on burning days. We also need #Indigenous perspectives. #AustPH2021

Now Prof @aPeterWT @ANUPopHealth @scienceANU on planetary health for the public's health. We are in strife, he tells #AustPH2021 We are in a planetary emergency. The climate science community has told us very politely "act now, or we are f$cked".

The adverse effects on the health of the plant include sources such as large, poorly regulated corporations, consequent to govt failure, financial influence of those corps, @aPeterWT tells #AustPH2021

Politics is now about winning office NOT to govern for the public good, Prof @aPeterWT tells #AustPH2021. He lists numerous examples of our politicians caught up in a corrupt system, and ignoring bills from cross bench MPs.

MPs choose when they will accept the evidence and expertise, and when they won't. Contrast JobKeeper and COVID19 responses to Uluru Statement. Behaviour of MPs is problem; problem is not govt. #AustPH2021

Some MPs serve the interests if corporatocracy, eg News Corp, not their communities. These create detrimental outcomes to people, our health. What do do? We transform these systems so they work for us. How? #AustPH2021.

We must act in the personal and professional; we need effective political action to strengthen our democracy, @aPeterWT tells #AustPH2021. Caps on election spending, independent authorities, elect MPs who will govern for the public good. Latter is immediate and focused.

Our system is tattered, but functioning. We can mend it. No time to create a new system. Actions can be taken. Regulate many activities of entities is essential to protect public health #AustPH2021

We need to be active citzens, @aPeterWT tells #AustPH2021. Elect MPs who will govern for the public good. Our power as voters rests in for whom we vote, and how we assign our preferences. Look at theyvoteforyou.org.au he says.

Part of the answer to get MPs who serve the public good, not corporations, we need to create a new narrative at how politics can work. Tell your friends and families. If groups like @_PHAA_ are to be effective, we have to change how we change the game. #AustPH2021

If you think some of these ideas are fanciful, consider that more than 30 electorates have created Voices For campaigns, @aPeterWT tells #AustPH2021.

People can take individual action, eg in own electorate. To stop losing our health, our planet, our democracy, we have to change the game. We have to work with MPs who will invite the public to work with them. Time is short. Over to you @aPeterWT tells #AustPH2021

Now Dr Rebecca Patrick @DeakinHealth @Deakin on making the links between mental health and nature. Dr Patrick is also chair of @healthy_climate. Much of her team's research is co-designed or led by students.

The health of humans is inextricably linked with the health of the planet. The biophilia hypothesis says we are dependent on nature for psychological wellbeing. Dr Patrick says it's "being hardwired to green environments, not concrete" ones. #AustPH2021

Environmental depravation can be alleviated with nature, even photos of nature. In recent years, mental health issues have moved from simmer to boil. Eg recent bush fires, and now the pandemic, Dr Patrick tells #AustPH2021

In past two years, lots of media coverage about climate grief, eco anxiety, eco depression. Our intention is not to medicalise these. We need to understand and measure the clinical impacts of climate change and mental health. #AustPH2021

Climate change on mental health can occur before, during and after an event. Dr Patrick outlines research @Deakin @MonashUni & @ABCscience have performed.

Most respondents interviewed in this forthcoming study have listed direct experience of #ClimateChange. Respondents also use the term #GlobalHeating. Hypothesis - lack of govt action on climate action compared to action on COVID19.

Ways to cope - many respondents self describing their own solutions. Contacts with nature, changing lifestyles. Lots of anecdotes, eg should I start a family, but also denial and avoidance commentary. Anger and distress at those in power. #AustPH2021

Priority populations include young people, #Indigenous communities. Table of a study shows Australian responses in an international context.

Australian results from several studies involving young people. #AustPH2021

This study from @Deakin has found factors that affect wellbeing include being in nature, efforts of climate movements. Young people have less anxiety if they are taking action, Dr Patrick tells #AustPH2021

Environmental workers also bearing witness to climate degradation and loss. #AustPH2021

Playing in nature as a child, especially in forests, can help throughout life. Dr Patrick outlines upcoming webinar on #ClimateChange and mental health that @healthy_climate will host on 6 Oct. Also shouts out Psychology for a Safe Climate, People and Parks Foundation + Enliven

Dr Patrick encourages further discussions about systems, her team's research, and Climate & Health Alliance. #AustPH2021