Targeted Call for Research into Climate-related health impacts and effective interventions to improve health outcomes 2024

Climate change has been identified as a significant threat to global health in the 21st century, with its impacts on health and wellbeing being unevenly distributed across people and communities. Australia already experiences health impacts from climate-related events such as floods, fires, and heatwaves and these events are likely to occur with greater frequency due to both the direct and indirect impacts of climate change. Adaptation is necessary to address inevitable health impacts and build resilience. Applications for this Targeted Call for Research (TCR) will better our understanding of the current and future impacts of climate change on the health and wellbeing of Australians and on health system demand.

This TCR was prioritised by the Commonwealth States and Territories Joint TCR Working Committee.

Successful applications for this TCR will build a stronger evidence base on:

• The effectiveness of targeted interventions addressing current and future risks of climate change on the health and wellbeing of Australians and on Australia’s health system
• The health impacts of climate change on key Australian population groups in vulnerable situations.

The expected outcomes of this TCR are:

• Expanded Australian research capacity in climate change and health
• Accelerated implementation of evidence-based interventions targeted to an Australian setting
• Reduced health impacts associated with climate-related hazards and events in Australia, including a reduction in health inequities
• Reduced the impacts of climate change on the Australian health system.