Healthy Cities Supports Global Climate Change Week! 

Global Climate Change Week (GCCW) is an annual series of events that began at University of Wollongong back in 2014 and has now gone global. It focuses on the need to develop just, sustainable, and equitable solutions for the climate crisis. Healthy Cities Australia understands that climate change poses the greatest threat to public health we face. 

The world has already heated by 1.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Australia recently released the first National Climate Risk Assessment which highlights the catastrophic consequences we face if we remain on our current trajectory by continuing to burn fossil fuels and heat the planet. The impacts include an increase in extreme weather, risks impacting the most vulnerable in our community, extreme heat, floods, bushfires, poor air quality, and communicable diseases that will have the greatest impacts on people with pre-existing health conditions. That is why it is so important that we do everything we can to stop climate change from worsening and mitigate the risks it poses. 

This year’s GCCW is sponsored by Grand Valley State University with the theme of ‘Rethinking the Role of Education in Times of Climate Emergency: Reflect, Repair, Regenerate’. Healthy Cities Australia is proud to support GCCW through a series of events that focus on practical steps we can take as individuals and as a society to combat climate change. 

In partnership with Wollongong City Council’s Sustainability Team, our food educators will present at two workshops that look at practical tips for saving energy, reducing bills, and cooking smarter at home. The workshops will include the use of portable induction cooktops to show just how easy it is to make the transition to clean, green, non-polluting electric appliances in the kitchen. They will take place at Dapto Library and Corrimal Library on 13 and 14 October. Register here for Dapto: 

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/global-climate-change-week-eco-smart-wallet-wise-at-dapto-library-tickets-1539068929599?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

and here for Corrimal: 

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/global-climate-change-week-eco-smart-wallet-wise-at-corrimal-library-tickets-1539072861359?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

On Thursday 16 October, Wollongong City Council will also host General Practitioner and medical educator Professor Rowena Ivers for a presentation on the hidden dangers of gas appliances in the home. Professor Ivers is a member of the RACGP Climate and Environmental Medicine Special Interest Group and Doctors for the Environment. Healthy Cities Australia supports a phase-out of gas appliances due to their proven impact on people with asthma and association with increased respiratory symptoms and has been campaigning throughout 2024 for Wollongong City Council to adopt all-electric building controls through its Development Control Plan.

Registration for the workshop is free and can be completed here: 

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/global-climate-change-week-health-impacts-of-indoor-gas-appliances-tickets-1558096290949?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Thursday 16 October will also see HCA’s Healthy Urban Environments Community of Practice hold its quarterly meeting online, with members of the University of Sydney Climate Change, Place and Mental Health Incubator discussing the impact our changing climate is having on mental health and how we can better design our homes to mitigate these impacts. This online meeting, which kicks off at 3pm, is open to anyone with an interest in public health, built environment, and mental health.

Email alexander@healthycities.org.au to register.