Prioritise First Nations people's health

Develop and implement First Nations-led climate action plans that address climate emergency impacts alongside food and water insecurity, as well as health prevention, management and treatment.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the First Peoples of Australia. Yet, the ongoing impact of colonisation, including racism, continues to have profound and detrimental impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This has led to disproportionate and inequitable health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Despite successive policies aimed at improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, progress to “close the gap” on health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is not on track. Different ways of thinking about rectifying health inequities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are needed, that prioritise self-determination, First Nations knowledges, cultural expression, and connection to Country.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, particularly those in remote and rural areas, are disproportionately affected by the climate emergency and its intersection with other issues including food and water insecurity that impact diet-related diseases. The development and implementation of First Nations-led community climate action plans that address the unique risks and exposures faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is needed. These plans should be community-driven, grounded in Indigenous cultural values and promote the leadership role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people play in environmental advocacy and climate emergency mitigation.

Read the full statement to learn more.