The SA Health Climate Change and Health Framework 2025-2030 (PDF 1877KB) was developed by the SA Health Climate Change Executive Governance Group (CCEGG) to provide a pathway for SA Health to deliver an environmentally sustainable, low carbon and climate-resilient public health system.
The Climate Change and Health Framework Summary (PDF 259KB) offers a snapshot overview.
Statewide performance against the Framework is monitored by the CCEGG.
Vision, mission and guiding principles
Developed through extensive consultation and based on the best available evidence, the Framework outlines SA Health’s leadership in climate action.
This section outlines the Vision, mission and nine guiding principles (PDF 271KB) established for the South Australian health system.
Purpose and SA Health context
Effective action on climate change can address many competing priorities including overcrowding, access block, the continued delivery of safe and quality health care, and finite resource allocation.
This section discusses how the Framework was developed and who will use it (PDF 146KB).
How climate change impacts upon the health of our population
Climate change is impacting South Australia now. South Australia is becoming hotter and drier, with more severe weather events such as flooding, heatwaves, and bushfires.
This section discusses the climate trajectory forecasts (PDF 146KB) through modelling, South Australia’s climate progress to date, and SA Health’s carbon footprint.
Framework goals and priority action areas
Mitigation of carbon emissions and adaptation of people and systems are crucial to achieve the goals of the Framework. This section discusses how the four goals will be achieved by the eight key priority action areas (PDF 345KB).
Priority action areas
This section outlines each of the eight priority action areas of the SA Health Climate Change and Health Framework 2025-2030 (PDF 1877KB):
- Priority 1 Leadership, governance and partnerships (PDF 53KB), page 19 to 20
- Priority 2 Health workforce (PDF 133KB), page 21 to 22
- Priority 3 Low carbon, high-quality care (PDF 205KB), page 23 to 24
- Priority 4 Infrastructure, technologies and products (PDF 42KB), page 25 to 26
- Priority 5 Energy – efficient and green (PDF 36KB), page 27
- Priority 6 Water, sanitation and waste (PDF 39KB), page 28
- Priority 7 Integrated risk and early warning systems (PDF 37KB), page 29
- Priority 8 Population risk, capacity and adaption assessment (PDF 41KB), page 30 to 31
Focus and recognition within the Framework
A First Nations’ focus is essential in all aspects, to understand impacts, centre and learn from existing cultural knowledge.
The Framework also recognises the role of the wider healthcare sector in South Australia – and outlines a shared path for taking action on climate change. This includes offering a Climate Change and Health Community of Practice (CCHCOP) for access by, and collaboration with, the wider healthcare sector.
The connections between our framework and other strategies and initiatives
The Framework is tied to the goals and obligations of the National Health and Climate Strategy.
The Framework mobilises the Climate Ready Government initiative which designates SA Health as a Phase 1 agency under the Premier and Cabinet Circular PC 007 (PDF 380KB), effective December 2024.
Climate Change Executive Governance Group (CCEGG)
The CCEGG has executive representation from across SA Health including from:
- the Department for Health and Wellbeing (DHW)
- Local Health Networks (LHNs)
- SA Ambulance Service (SAAS)
- Statewide Clinical Support Services (SCSS)
- Preventive Health SA (PHSA)
- the Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health (CEIH).