RACS has written to the Australian Health Minister applauding the commitment to develop Australia's first National Health and Climate Strategy and also the establishment of a National Health Sustainability and Climate Unit, and expressing our interest in being involved in the consultation process.
The effects of climate change are already impacting on the health of individuals across the world. Counter-intuitively, the health sector itself represents a significant source of pollution and is a major contributor to national carbon emissions world-wide.
RACS is committed to working with Governments at all levels to ensure that the strategy initiatives which reduce the impact that surgical practice has on the environment, while also ensuring patient safety or quality of care is not compromised.