On 23 September, the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York City gets under way - a timely reminder that climate change is a defining issue of our time.

Evidence shows that climate change disrupts the life-support systems that underpin the world’s capacity to supply adequate food and fresh water, and disturbs the eco-physical buffering against natural disasters. It’s a significant threat to the health of people and communities, although here in NZ, we may be insulated from the full effects in the short term.

Globally it is already apparent that more frequent and more extreme weather events are causing injury and death, damaging livelihoods and property and sometimes forcing people to leave their homes and neighborhoods. Those most vulnerable to the health effects of climate change include the elderly, children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, farmers, tourists, members of ethnic minority groups and people who are homeless.

In Southland we can expect impacts from both increasing temperatures and climate variability - heat waves in Invercargill last summer. There is concern over declining numbers of insect pollinators and the effect on food crops and a new term ‘ eco-anxiety’ that is being used to describe chronic concern over environmental issues. Growing numbers of people including children are experiencing stress and worry about the potential impacts of climate change.

Southern DHB has an aging population and an increasing number of people living with disability, so the new Board will need to ensure there is good planning to build community resilience, ensure the adequacy of our health care facilities and infrastructure, and establish an early warning systems. An assessment of vulnerability from a health perspective would be a good place to start. Environment Southland has started to model local climate change impacts so there is an opportunity to work collaboratively on this issue.

With threats there are always opportunities and m any mitigation and adaptation responses to climate change could reduce the burden of ill health, enhance community resilience, alleviate poverty, and address inequity.

Perhaps the most effective thing that most people can do is reduce car dependent travel and increase the use of active travel mode or public transport. This makes us more physically active which helps reduce cardiovascular disease, cancer and depression.

The health sector itself is responsible for an estimated 3 to 8 percent of New Zealand's carbon emissions - from burning coal and gas, having large transport fleets, packaging and waste, and carbon-intensive procurement practices. Southern DHB should work to phase out coal as a heating source in hospitals which will improve air quality and reduce respiratory illness.

Our young people are now playing a critical role in rousing communities and politicians to take more action to achieve the 17 sustainable development goals of the Paris Agreement, by working toward reducing emissions to essentially zero by mid-century. The protection and improvement of human health is one of the ultimate goals of sustainable development - the health sector needs to step up too.

If elected I’ll be advocating for a carbon zero DHB.

Vote # 1 Marion POORE for Southern DHB

• Authorised by Marion Rosalind Poore, 307 Morven Ferry Rd, Arrow Junction Queenstown 9371