Impacts of climate change and air pollution for Australians with lung disease

Our climate is changing, and this is of concern for Australians with a lung disease who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of breathing polluted air and managing their health during increasingly frequent heatwaves. Lung Foundation Australia (LFA) developed a short survey to better understand the impacts of climate change and air pollution for those living with a lung disease. The survey was conducted in Aug/Sept 2023. Responses (n=448) were analysed descriptively. Survey results show that climate change and air pollution had a substantial impact on those living with a lung disease: 59% of respondents required medication, 30% required a general practitioner appointment, 11% attended the emergency department, and 60% said it impacted on their emotional wellbeing. In particular, respondents felt the source causing the greatest impact on their lung health was from smoke from planned and unplanned bushfires, vehicle emissions, and heatwaves. Correspondingly, these were the topics respondents most wanted guidance/resources on. Australians living with lung disease reported being greatly impacted by climate change and air pollution. There is strong support from the lung disease community for a government led strategy to reduce air pollution and protect lung health, as well as additional management guidance from health professionals and non-government organisations. As Australia makes progress towards its COP28 commitments, LFA will continue to raise awareness of the health benefits from improved climate and health policy. Australians are being negatively impacted by climate change, and more must be done to support and protect the health of those most vulnerable, including those with a lung condition.