The 2022 report of the MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australia unprepared and paying the price

Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal

Building resilience to Australian flood disasters in the face of climate change

Sotiris Vardoulakis et al.

MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA (2022)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Quantitative methods for climate change and mental health research: current trends and future directions

Alessandro Massazza et al.

Lancet Planetary Health (2022)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

The 2022 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: health at the mercy of fossil fuels

Marina Romanello et al.

LANCET (2022)

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Article Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences

A Pilot Forecasting System for Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma in Southeastern Australia

Tony Bannister et al.

Summary: The state of Victoria in Australia experienced a rare epidemic thunderstorm asthma event in 2016, leading to a pilot forecasting system being developed to predict such risks in the future. Although historically infrequent, high and moderate asthma presentation events were identified in the first three years of the pilot, showing the system's skill in discriminating between days with and without health impacts. However, challenges remain in accurately predicting this unusual phenomenon.

BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY (2021)

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Editorial Material Pediatrics

Climate change: A Wumpurrarni-kari and Papulanyi-kari shared problem

Simon Quilty et al.

JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH (2021)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Immediate and delayed effects of climatic factors on hospital admissions for schizophrenia in Queensland Australia: A time series analysis

Shafkat Jahan et al.

Summary: The study found that climatic factors have immediate and delayed effects on daily hospital admissions for schizophrenia in Queensland, Australia. The impact varies in different regions, with temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, and rainfall all showing significant associations with schizophrenia admissions. Preventive measures could be implemented to reduce the severity of symptoms and hospital admissions during vulnerable periods.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

The potential effectiveness of the WHO International Health Regulations capacity requirements on control of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study of 114 countries

Martin C. S. Wong et al.

Summary: The study showed that higher WHO International Health Regulations score was significantly associated with lower incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19, providing important insights for the design of pandemic control strategies.

JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE (2021)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Fossil CO2 emissions in the post-COVID-19 era

Corinne Le Quere et al.

Summary: Five years after the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement, global CO2 emissions growth has started to slow down. The trajectory of global CO2 emissions has been drastically altered by the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. New policy choices are needed to address the contradictory effects of post-COVID-19 investments in fossil fuel-based infrastructure and the recent strengthening of climate targets to sustain a decline in global emissions in the post-COVID-19 era.

NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE (2021)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Modelling the Relationship between Rainfall and Mental Health Using Different Spatial and Temporal Units

Matthew Yap et al.

Summary: This study examined the relationship between mental health-related emergency department presentations and rainfall in the Wheat Belt region of Western Australia from 2002 to 2017, with results showing wide variation. Associations between MHED presentations and rainfall were generally positive in summer months and generally negative in winter months.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Multi-decadal increase of forest burned area in Australia is linked to climate change

Josep G. Canadell et al.

Summary: The frequency and area of forest fires in Australia have significantly increased in recent decades, mainly due to dangerous fire weather conditions caused by warmer temperatures and circulation changes. The trend of burned area in Australia's forests shows a linear positive annual trend but an exponential increase during autumn and winter.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Correlating heatwaves and relative humidity with suicide (fatal intentional self-harm)

Fernando Florido Ngu et al.

Summary: Empirical evidence suggests that changes in heat and humidity can have significant impacts on mental health, with younger age groups and women being more affected. Further research is needed to better understand these connections and to determine which population groups are particularly impacted.

SCIENTIFIC REPORTS (2021)

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Article Nutrition & Dietetics

Diets within Environmental Limits: The Climate Impact of Current and Recommended Australian Diets

Bradley Ridoutt et al.

Summary: Planetary boundaries set absolute limits for resource use and emissions to prevent irreversible earth system changes. Urgent adoption of climate-neutral diets is necessary to reduce carbon footprints. Innovation in food industries is crucial to expand the range of climate-neutral foods in Australia to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

NUTRIENTS (2021)

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Review Environmental Sciences

Climate Change and Mental Health: A Scoping Review

Fiona Charlson et al.

Summary: Climate change is adversely affecting the mental health of populations, leading to psychological distress, worsened mental health, and higher mortality rates. Most research focuses on assessing the mental health risks associated with climate change, with fewer studies addressing effective interventions, mitigation and adaptation strategies, decision support, and cost estimations for protecting health from climate change. More research is needed to develop evidence-based strategies for mitigation and adaptation.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH (2021)

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Review Environmental Sciences

Is there an association between hot weather and poor mental health outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Jingwen Liu et al.

Summary: This systematic review aimed to summarize the epidemiological evidence on the effects of high ambient temperatures and heatwaves on mental health-related mortality and morbidity. The study found associations between heat exposures and various mental health outcomes, with varying effects observed depending on the definition of heatwaves. Subgroup analyses revealed heterogeneity in the effects of heat exposure on different populations.

ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL (2021)

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Article Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

Coastal flood risk within a peri-urban area: SUSSEX Inlet district, SE Australia

E. F. Asbridge et al.

Summary: The peri-urban interface (PUI) represents a complex mix of urban and rural characteristics, leading to lagging risk assessments and planning. This study aims to address this gap by adapting the risk triangle framework to assess flood risk in PUI areas, particularly in Australia. Integrating biophysical and socio-economic factors, the study provides planning strategies to reduce future flood risk and offers a cost-effective tool for decision makers globally.

NATURAL HAZARDS (2021)

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Article Food Science & Technology

The Evolution of Urban Australian Meat-Eating Practices

Tani Khara et al.

Summary: This study found that young people in urban Australia are reducing their consumption of red meat and opting for meats considered healthier or more ethical. Changes in the image of meat-eating men and the discourse surrounding meat consumption have also shifted alongside rising environmental and health consciousness. Participants expressed interest in reducing meat consumption and adopting more plant-based foods, citing challenges such as limited access to ingredients and negative associations with vegetarian diets.

FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS (2021)

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Review Environmental Sciences

Connections of climate change and variability to large and extreme forest fires in southeast Australia

Nerilie J. Abram et al.

Summary: The unprecedented 2019/20 Black Summer bushfire disaster in southeast Australia was mainly caused by extreme dry climate and long-term climate trends leading to increased fire risk. Improving local and national adaptation measures while pursuing ambitious global climate change mitigation efforts are necessary to limit further increases in fire risk in southeast Australia. Multiple climate change contributors have led to an increase in fire extent and intensity over the past decades, and this trend is likely to continue into the future.

COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT (2021)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Linking disaster risk reduction and human development

Jonathan Raikes et al.

Summary: This study explored government practitioners' views on the integration of disaster risk reduction and human development in the context of floods and droughts in Canada and Australia. Findings indicate a need for broader engagement with local human development systems in disaster risk reduction, including considerations such as poverty, health, climate action, social equity, and human agency. Mechanisms critical to developing integrated approaches include effective legislation, policy frameworks, evidence-based decision-making, and cross-sector collaboration.

CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT (2021)

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Article Psychology, Clinical

Anger Dimensions and Mental Health Following a Disaster: Distribution and Implications After a Major Bushfire

Sean Cowlishaw et al.

Summary: The study analyzed survey data from 736 residents of rural communities in Victoria, Australia 5 years after the Black Saturday bushfires, finding that approximately 10% of respondents in highly affected areas showed significant anger problems. Anger problems were associated with other postdisaster mental health issues and had negative impacts on life satisfaction, suicidal ideation, and hostile aggressive behavior.

JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

The impact of extreme heat events on hospital admissions to the Royal Hobart Hospital

Kaitlyn E. Watson et al.

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH (2020)

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Review Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Impacts of Coal Use on Health

Michael Hendryx et al.

ANNUAL REVIEW OF PUBLIC HEALTH, VOL 41 (2020)

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Article Ecology

Understanding the impacts of water scarcity and socio-economic demographics on farmer mental health in the Murray-Darling Basin

Sahar Daghagh Yazd et al.

ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS (2020)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Healthy and Climate-Friendly Eating Patterns in the New Zealand Context

Jonathan Drew et al.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES (2020)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

ERA5-based global meteorological wildfire danger maps

Claudia Vitolo et al.

SCIENTIFIC DATA (2020)

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Article Infectious Diseases

A large scale waterborne Campylobacteriosis outbreak, Havelock North, New Zealand

Brent J. Gilpin et al.

JOURNAL OF INFECTION (2020)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Effects of heavy rainfall on waterborne disease hospitalizations among young children in wet and dry areas of New Zealand

Hakkan Lai et al.

ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL (2020)

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Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal

The 2020 special report of the MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: lessons learnt from Australia's Black Summer

Ying Zhang et al.

MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA (2020)

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Editorial Material Environmental Sciences

Moving the Overton window

[Anonymous]

LANCET PLANETARY HEALTH (2020)

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Article Environmental Sciences

International comparison of health care carbon footprints

Peter-Paul Pichler et al.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS (2019)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Potential of active transport to improve health, reduce healthcare costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions: A modelling study

Anja Mizdrak et al.

PLOS ONE (2019)

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Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal

The 2019 report of the MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: a turbulent year with mixed progress

Paul J. Beggs et al.

MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA (2019)

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Article International Relations

Designing Border Carbon Adjustments for Enhanced Climate Action

Michael A. Mehling et al.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW (2019)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Community Response and Engagement During Extreme Water Events in Saskatchewan, Canada and Queensland, Australia

Dena W. McMartin et al.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (2018)

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Article Biodiversity Conservation

Drought and Distress in Southeastern Australia

Ivan C. Hanigan et al.

ECOHEALTH (2018)

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Review Medicine, General & Internal

The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: from 25 years of inaction to a global transformation for public health

Nick Watts et al.

LANCET (2018)

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Review Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Heatwave and health impact research: A global review

Sharon Campbell et al.

HEALTH & PLACE (2018)

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Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal

The MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australian policy inaction threatens lives

Ying Zhang et al.

MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA (2018)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Measurement of inter- and intra-annual variability of landscape fire activity at a continental scale: the Australian case

Grant J. Williamson et al.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS (2016)

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Differences in Australian and New Zealand medicines funding policies

Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar et al.

Australian Prescriber (2016)

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Review Medicine, General & Internal

Health and climate change: policy responses to protect public health

Nick Watts et al.

LANCET (2015)

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Article Environmental Sciences

The Excess Heat Factor: A Metric for Heatwave Intensity and Its Use in Classifying Heatwave Severity

John R. Nairn et al.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH (2015)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

The Burden Attributable to Mental and Substance Use Disorders as Risk Factors for Suicide: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010

Alize J. Ferrari et al.

PLOS ONE (2014)

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Article Economics

THE CONSTRUCTION OF WORLD INPUT-OUTPUT TABLES IN THE WIOD PROJECT

Erik Dietzenbacher et al.

ECONOMIC SYSTEMS RESEARCH (2013)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Mental health of Indigenous Australians: a review of findings from community surveys

Anthony F. Jorm et al.

MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA (2012)

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Review Medicine, General & Internal

Managing the health effects of climate change

Anthony Costello et al.

LANCET (2009)

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Article Psychology, Clinical

Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress

RC Kessler et al.

PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE (2002)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Daily mortality in relation to weather and air pollution in Christchurch, New Zealand

S Hales et al.

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH (2000)

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Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal

The 2021 report of the MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australia increasingly out on a limb

Paul J. Beggs et al.

Summary: The MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change in Australia has been producing annual updates since 2017, examining indicators across five domains. The findings show that Australians are increasingly exposed and vulnerable to excess heat and other weather extremes, with climate change disproportionately threatening Indigenous Australians. While positive actions are being taken at various levels, national policies are undermining these efforts.

MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA

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The 2022 report of the MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australia unprepared and paying the price

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