Aborigines 'to bear the brunt of climate change'

A team of researchers believes indigenous Australians will suffer more severely than the rest of the population.

Many of Australia's indigenous communities live in hot, dry and remote parts of the country.

A group of experts has written in the Medical Journal of Australia, that as climate change starts to bite, the health of indigenous people will suffer the most.

“Climate change is going to affect the health of all Australians but what we're finding unfortunately is that indigenous Australians living in remote areas have specific vulnerabilities and that's largely because they have pre existing social and economic disadvantage,” author Donna Green says.

The authors say Aboriginal people already suffer worse health and living standards than the rest of the population and their access to services is poorer.

Heart and lung problems, as well as bacterial infections, are likely to become more frequent in hotter weather.

The article also says aboriginal people's strong connection to the land means that when their country suffers, their health is likely to be affected.

“Many indigenous people feel that their health is intimately linked with the health of their country so if we're starting to see ecosystem impacts, this may be the land, plants, animals, changing in response to climate change, that will also have a psychological effect on the wellbeing of the people that own that country,” it says.

The article urges doctors to give greater consideration to a patient's environment.

It also calls for cross cultural training for medical professionals and more health services in northern and central Australia.

The Federal Government says it recognises the need to better understand the health risks posed by climate change, and what action can be taken to reduce the risks.