Demographic differences in Australia’s local government adaptation planning for health and climate change

Objectives. Adaptation planning is needed at all levels of government to limit the adverse impacts of climate change on public health. This study aims to examine adaptation planning with a health focus at the local government level in Australia.

Methods. All 541 Australian local governments were contacted by email, and their websites were searched to determine which had a climate change adaptation plan. These plans were analysed for their health-word content.

Results. Almost one-quarter (23%, 124/541) of Australian local governments had a climate change adaptation plan. A larger proportion of urban local governments had plans when compared with rural local governments (41% vs 8%, P < 0.001). Local governments with plans had less socioeconomic disadvantage (P < 0.001), and a higher proportion of local governments in the states of Victoria (53%) and Tasmania (48%) had plans when compared with elsewhere (6–29%, P < 0.001). All plans mentioned health-related words, but some words, such as vector and mosquito, were mentioned in less than 50% of plans.

Conclusions. Australia’s local governments differ in adaptation planning for health and climate change, with just under a quarter having produced a plan, and the extent and nature of health content are highly variable.