ANMF calls for urgent action as climate change continues to harm Australians' health and well-being
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF)
Nurses, midwives and carers are calling on the Federal Government to urgently act on three climate and health priorities, as new research shows heat, air pollution and drought continue to harm the health and well-being of all Australians.
The alarming findings of The Lancet Countdown’s 2026 Australian data sheet show:
- In 2025, 66% of the heatwave days that people in Australia were exposed to on average were directly attributable to climate change;
- People in Australia were exposed to an average of 435 hours per year in which heat posed a moderate or higher risk of heat stress during moderate outdoor physical activity (e.g., brisk walking) between 2016 and 2025, over 100 hours more than the annual average in the 1990s.
- Approximately 3,900 deaths in Australia were attributable to anthropogenic fine particulate air pollution (PM₂.₅) in 2023, a 2.4% increase from 2016.
Commenting on The Lancet research, ANMF Federal Assistant Secretary, Catelyn Richards, said:
“As nurses, midwives and carers on the frontline of this emergency, we know that this climate crisis has become a health crisis, which continues to impact health outcomes across Australian communities.”
Drawing from the Lancet Countdown's 2026 data, the ANMF partnered with The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change to develop 2026 Climate and Health Policy Priorities for Australia:
- Strengthen the Safeguard Mechanism
The Safeguard Mechanism covers more than 200 of Australia's largest emitters, which produce around 30% of national emissions. Facilities can meet their obligations by surrendering carbon credits instead of cutting emissions on site, and 13.4 million credit units were surrendered in 2024–25. The mechanism needs a stronger post-2030 trajectory, with more on-site cuts and limit reliance on offsets, reducing air pollution behind thousands of deaths each year.
2. Fund heat-health protection through Primary Health Networks
The Government has committed to a National Heat-Health Action Plan, and the Australian Climate Service Heat-Health Risk Index now maps local heat risk. Dedicated funding and national guidance would let Australia's 31 Primary Health Networks use that information to find vulnerable communities and support primary care. Nurses and other clinicians could then build heat into chronic disease care, review heat-sensitive medications, check patients' access to cooling and follow up during extreme heat.
3. Electrify Australian hospitals
Australia's health system produces 5.4% of national emissions. Hospitals still rely heavily on fossil gas for heating, hot water and sterilisation, and coal supplied 46.7% of Australia's electricity in 2023. Modelling shows electrifying public hospitals over a decade could cut around 312,000 tonnes of emissions and save about AU$59 million in energy costs each year. The ANMF calls for electrification and energy-efficiency targets to be implemented across health services.
Ms Richards added: “Many heat-related illnesses and death are preventable - nurses in general practice, community health and aged care already know who is most at risk. With dedicated funding and national guidance through Primary Health Networks, we can reach those people before the heat arrives.
“Fossil fuels contribute to thousands of deaths from air pollution every year. Electrifying hospitals and making the biggest emitters cut pollution at the source means cleaner air for patients and lower energy bills for the health system.
“The ANMF and its members are calling on the Federal Government to take a stronger stand on climate change and safeguard the future resilience and health of all Australians – by implementing these three national priorities as a matter of urgency.”
For further information, go to:
- https://lancetcountdown.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/AUSTRALIA-Policy-Priority-sheet-2026.pdf
- https://lancetcountdown.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1_AUSTRALIA-Data-sheet-2026.pdf
- Romanello M, Walawender M, Israelsson J et al. The 2026 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change. The Lancet 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01779-4
About us:
The ANMF, with over 356,000 members, is the industrial and professional voice for nurses, midwives and carers in Australia.
ANMF media statement authorised by Annie Butler, ANMF Federal Secretary. 1/365 Queen St, Melbourne.
Contact details:
ANMF media contact:
Richard Lenarduzzi 0411 254 390