Understanding climate change and the implications for health systems is important for working in health care and protection.  

The climate change evidence

Already we’re experiencing:

  • damage to healthcare infrastructure
  • impacts to population health
  • increasing patient presentations
  • increasing infectious disease outbreaks
  • impacts on workforce.

Other stakeholder perspectives and initiatives

The SA Health Climate Change Framework has been consulted on extensively and:

  • outlines why action is needed now to ensure the future health of South Australians
  • recognises the significant roles the health sector has in climate mitigation, adaptation and supporting the community to manage impacts of climate change
  • draws knowledge from work undertaken by other jurisdictions and peak bodies, adjusted to a South Australian health context
  • reflects some excellent work already underway within SA Health’s hospitals, health services and facilities.

In response to public feedback, SA Health has:

  • strengthened its enablers for climate action by including the identified intersections with sustainable food systems, primary care, environmental and social determinants of health
  • improved and captured green initiatives in communities and for the buildings and lands of health facilities
  • incorporated a greater focus on equity in health outcomes, and refinement of language in regard to risk and community groups. 

A collective healthcare sector approach

With the SA Health Climate Change and Health Framework 2025-2030 (PDF 2592KB) in place, SA Health will continue collaboration statewide, inclusive of the wider healthcare sector, through the:

This will enable a collective healthcare industry planning response to support preventive population health as we experience the projected climate change trajectory.

Forecast climate change impacts

Increases in both daily and overnight temperatures, with more frequent and longer heatwaves, with the number of days per year over 40°C projected to more than double.
Longer fire seasons, with 40% more very high fire danger days.
Reduced rainfall, with a likelihood of more frequent and/or intense droughts and associated dust storms.
Extreme rain events are projected to be more intense when they occur.
Rising sea-levels, with increased coastal erosion and storm surge damage.
Increased occurrence of coincident, cascading, and multiple events or polycrises (such as a heatwave followed by bushfire or overland flooding combined with storm surge).