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 Screenshot of program for plenary session 3.
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 screenshots of slides by Prof Johnsonscreenshots of slides by Prof Johnson shows domestic, indust
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 present and future on a slide showing fires
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 wood, peat and brown coal are sources of particulates.
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. slide says who is at higher risk over short term and long te
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 screenshot of annual wildfire smoke health costs in AUS 2000
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 screenshot of savannah burning and air quality in Darwin.
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 screenshot of situational analysis slide by Peter Tait.
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 screenshot of slide for book called 'mending democracy'slide says 'strengthening democracy' unhealthy political inf
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. screenshot of first slide by Dr Patrick
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 slide lists links between mental health and nature.
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 slide about climate change and psychological distress.
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 our research nation wide, general population.
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 final screenshot of Dr Patrick's slides lists her contact em

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More from @_PHAA_

23 Sep
It's now time for Prof Tom Calma AO, whose roles include Chancellor of the University of Canberra and co-chair of @RecAustralia, who is delivering the Basil Hertzel Oration #AustPH2021 screenshot of Tom Calma speaking.
Prof Calma says the pandemic's ongoing lockdowns are causing challenging times. "This is hard", he says. It also shows much of Australia a reality the country has often avoided. Despite this, there are many lessons to be learned, and wins to be celebrated, he says. #AustPH2021
The Public Health sector is at risk of burn out. Lots of pressures over a long time. We still need to take time to reset, re-energise and refine, Prof Calma says. #AustPH2021
Read 19 tweets
23 Sep
Bardi woman Prof Pat Dudgeon gets our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing session underway. Must acknowledge colonisation and the strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples, she tells #AustPH2021 screenshot of Prof Pat Dugeon's home slide.screenshot on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
Suicide is second leading cause of death of Indigenous men, and 7th leading cause for Indigenous women, Prof Dudgeon says. Institutionalised racism and lack of culturally-appropriate services. screenshot of suicide statistics.suicide statistics youth screenshot.
Prof Dudgeon says there is regional disparity among suicide rates for Indigenous people. Reasons include grief and loss in families, dislocation, trans-generational trauma. We need more culturally appropriate services. #AustPH2021 Screenshot of Australian Indigenous context of suicide and r
Read 22 tweets
22 Sep
Thank you @ACTHealth @RachelSS_MLA on your address, and outlining some of the responses to health challenges in the ACT which linger, despite the COVID19 pandemic. #AustPH2021. screenshot of Rachel Stephen-Smith.
Thank you @takeshi_kasai @WHOWPRO regional Director for joining #AustPH2021. His regional office features 600 staff, connecting countries to enable constant sharing of information and experience to COVID19, testing and contact tracing, PPE, oxygen concentrators, vaccines. Screenshot of WHO official addressing our conference.
Dr @takeshi_kasai says 20 months into the pandemic, 8m infected across @WHOWPRO, 108,000 deaths. Situation worsened in early July when Delta strain and other surges arrived. Our share of global cases and deaths is rising, 12% global cases, 10% global deaths. #AustPH2021
Read 20 tweets
22 Sep
PHAA President Prof Tarun Weeramanthri @tarunw gets our #AustPH2021 underway. We'll soon be joined by @WHOWPRO's @takeshi_kasai,
ACT Minister for Health @RachelSS_MLA @ACTHealth, Prof @AlisonRitter1
and Prof Simon Lenton of @NDRIau. Program is here: austph2021.com/program Screenshot of PHAA President addressing the webinar.
We're delighted @RachelSS_MLA Minister for @ACTHealth is here to give our opening address at #AustPH2021. She thanks #PublicHealth members of PHAA for their vital work confronting the COVID19 pandemic, and advising @actgovernment. screenshot of the ACT Health Minister addressing the confern
Read 8 tweets

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