Climate change, environment and cardiovascular health

Presented jointly by the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre Nepean and the Cardiovascular Initiative, a symposium Climate change, environment and cardiovascular health held in the centre of Western Sydney examined the impact of extreme heat on health.

Our multidiscplinary researchers along with those with first-hand experience working in communities examined environmental exposures including air pollution, heat, food, workplace, nutritional, social, and the built environment examined and presented their recent research.

At the coalface in Western Sydney

The meeting was co-covened by Charles Perkins Centre Nepean and the Cardiovascular Initiative. Charles Perkins Centre Academic Director, Professor Stephen J Simpson AC FAA FRS, recognises the important role that CPC Nepean plays in improving the health of the region. 

"Located in the heart of Western Sydney, the mission of CPC Nepean is on life-changing outcomes for the residents of greater Western Sydney, under the overarching mission of the Charles Perkins Centre network: to ease the burden of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and their related conditions," said Professor Simpson.

"This important Symposium showcased the researchers, clinicians, policy-makers and healthcare professionals working at the coalface of a health crisis, presenting real-world solutions for the people of Western Sydney."

The Symposium opened with a talk by leading heat researcher and CPC member, Professor Ollie Jay, Director of the Heat and Health Research Centre in the University's Faculty of Medicine and Health. He outlined the multiple impacts of heat on health in his presentation, Heat waves and heart breaks.

Record-breaking temperatures

"In the past, Western Sydney has recorded the highest world-wide temperature, making it the hottest place on earth that day. With rising temperatures globally and with Western Sydney's dense and growing population, as well as its economic importance to Australia.

Addressing issues around the impact of extreme heat on its population as well as determining ways to mitigate the impact is of unquestionable importance," said Dr Faraz Pathan, Symposium co-convenor.

"Greater Western Sydney has a population of almost 3 million. The health of its people and the impact of climate change is of the utmost importance," he said.

We must act now

"Climate change is the biggest health threat facing humanity. World Health Organization reminds government, community and health organisations of this fact but asks that we look towards a solution-focused conversation," said Ms Trish Doyle MP and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change, Environment Heritage and Energy.

"One of the most important jobs I have is being that conduit between communities and the government and particularly listening to the experts in the fields … to drive the change that we need to see governments make. Often communities are several steps ahead of our governments in change. We must act now," she said.

"Working with patients and communities in Western Sydney, I actively advocate for social and environmental determinants of health in my work on the Council of the AMA (NSW), NSW/ACT council RACGP, among a number of the organisations I'm involved withs," said Dr Kim Loo, general practice advocate for Western Sydney.

"As well. I have seen, first-hand, working as a GP how extreme weather has ongoing impact on the daily lives of my patients. Tragically, it has led to death in some case," she said.

Travel scholarships for EMCRs

The symposium encouraged early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) to participate by submitting research abstracts on the theme. Four EMCRs presented their work: Dr Fabian Sack, Dr Duan Ni, Mr Weilong Li and Mr Matthew Shu, with Matthew Shu being awarded a travel scholarship of $3,000 and the other three shortlisted each awarded $1,000. 

“It’s such an honour to work in the Charles Perkins Centre community where we’re able to collaborate on research with real impact at all stages of our academic careers," said Mr Shu.

The Charles Perkins Centre has played a pivotal role in supporting my EMCR journey, alongside medicine studies, particularly with my recent experience of the Charles Perkins Centre Summer Research Scholarship 2023 program nurtured my interest in bioinformatics. This travel scholarship will be invaluable to facilitating opportunities to attend conferences aboard later this year," he said.

Watch the presentations

Full playlist

Climate change, environment and cardiovascular disease symposium playlist

Individual presentations

Dr Kim Loo |  The impacts of extreme weather and heat on primary care, and the potential solutions

Professor Kazuaki Negishi |  Air pollution and heart disease

Professor Ollie Jay | Heat waves and heart breaks

Professor Thomas Astell-Burt | Regenerative cities and flourishing communities: Why more trees might mean less loneliness and better health

Trish Doyle MP | Climate change and Western Sydney

Dr Kathryn Williams | Management of severe and complicated obesity: Are we setting people up to fail?

Professor Ralph Nanan | Are diets that are good for you, good for the planet?

Dr Faraz Pathan | Can your workplace cure heart disease?