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Climate Change and Australian Agriculture: A Review of the Threats Facing Rural Communities and the Health Policy Landscape
Citation
Hanna, EG and Bell, EJ and King, D and Woodruff, R, Climate Change and Australian Agriculture: A Review of the Threats Facing Rural Communities and the Health Policy Landscape, Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 23, (2) pp. 105S-118S. ISSN 1010-5395 (2011) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2011 SAGE Publications
DOI: doi:10.1177/1010539510391459
Abstract
Population health is a function of social and environmental health determinants. Climate change is predicted to bring significant alterations to ecological systems on which human health and livelihoods depend; the air, water, plant, and animal health. Agricultural systems are intrinsically linked with environmental conditions, which are already under threat in much of southern Australian because of rising heat and protracted drying. The direct impact of increasing heat waves on human physiology and survival has recently been well studied. More diffusely, increasing drought periods may challenge the viability of agriculture in some regions, and hence those communities that depend on primary production. A worst case scenario may herald the collapse of some communities. Human health impacts arising from such transition would be
profound. This article summarizes existing rural health challenges and presents the current evidence plus future predictions of climate change impacts on Australian agriculture to argue the need for significant augmentation of public health and existing health policy frameworks. The article concludes by suggesting that adaptation to climate change requires planning for worst case scenario outcomes to avert catastrophic impacts on rural communities. This will involve national policy planning as much as regional-level leadership for rapid development of adaptive strategies in agriculture and other key areas of rural communities.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | climate change, rural communities, health policy |
| Research Division: | Studies in Human Society |
| Research Group: | Sociology |
| Research Field: | Rural Sociology |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) |
| Objective Field: | Environmental Health |
| UTAS Author: | Bell, EJ (Associate Professor Erica Bell) |
| ID Code: | 72742 |
| Year Published: | 2011 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 20 |
| Deposited By: | Centre for Rural Health |
| Deposited On: | 2011-08-31 |
| Last Modified: | 2012-04-17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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