Responding to the Health Impacts of Climate Change in the Australia Desert

  • Mr David Campbell, Desert Knowledge CRC/Centre for Remoter Health, Australia
  • Dr Mark Stafford-Smith, CSIRO/Desert Knowledge CRC, Australia
  • Dr Jocelyn Davies, Desert Knowledge CRC/CSIRO, Australia
  • Dr Pim Kuipers, Centre for Remote Health, Australia
  • Prof John Wakerman, Centre for Remote Health, Australia
  • Prof Murray McGregor, Desert Knowledge CRC/Curtin University, Australia

    • Climate change is likely to have a significant effect on the health of those living in the 70 per cent of Australia that is desert. The direct impacts on health are important. As too are the secondary impacts on an uncertain and highly variable natural environment and on the interlinking social and economic systems. Responding to the impacts of climate change will involve the active participation of a variety of interest groups including those not traditionally defined as within the health sector. The modes of engagement required for this process need to be innovative, and will differ between regions.