Climate and Health: Implications and actions for young people in Melbourne

Join us in this climate and health conversation – hear from people working in this space globally and locally, contribute your experience, and participate in a workshop about having effective climate conversations - run by Climate for Change. (Climate Action is only a conversation away).

This event is being presented in collaboration with the UNAA Victoria Future Leaders Network and Climate CATCH Lab.

Climate and good Health and wellbeing: SDG3

According to WHO, Climate change is the single biggest threat to health and healthcare systems. 

Health will be a priority theme at COP31. The climate crisis is a health crisis and making health a core COP31 priority reflects reality on the ground.

Young people are one of the most affected groups by climate change and are at the forefront of climate action, leading youth movements, climate advocacy and activism to demand government action.

Climate change has significant impacts on young people’s physical and mental health. Climate-related distress is rising among young people, including in Australia, where over two-thirds of young Australians reporting that climate change negatively impacts their mental health.

Understanding how young people navigate the challenges of climate change is vital to understanding how climate action can be shaped.

Providing young people with the necessary negotiating skills and tools to engage in challenging climate-related discussions about its impacts and solutions, as well as ensuring that young people feel empowered to engage in this rapidly changing environment are all essential for meaningful climate action for future generations.

Join us to hear from passionate young speakers sharing their experience and take part in an engaging, hands on climate workshop. It's a great chance to connect, learn and be part of the conversations shaping a healthier, more sustainable future for young people.

Speakers

Moderated by Dr Chethana Mudunna Co-President UNAA Victoria Future Leaders Network, Research Fellow, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University &

Sunny Nguyen – Co-Lead of the Intergenerational Justice Stream, WHO Collaborating Centre for Climate and Health, Climate Catch Lab

Opening Speakers:

• Hannah Morrice, Research Fellow, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health & Politics & Co-lead Policy stream @ Climate Catch Lab

• Dr Hasini Gunasiri –  Climate and Environment Unit, Orygen

Panel Speakers

• Paul Stark Climate Change and City Resilience @ the City of Melbourne. Formerly worked with Farmers for Climate Action,

• Bianca Lau-Goodchild Partnerships Coordinator & Youth Lead @ Climate and Health Alliance

• Dr Katitza Marinkovic Chavez Climate Catch Lab, Lead Developer of the Climate Superpowers Project

Workshop by Climate for Change facilitated by Tahnee Burgess & Mike McEvoy

This event forms part of the United Nations Association of Australia (Victoria) and City of Melbourne’s 2026 Climate and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) event series.

In 2026, COP31 will be hosted in Türkiye, with Australia assuming the COP presidency of negotiations. This is a defining role for Australia and the Pacific to influence global climate discussions in the lead-up to, and at the conference in November.

In recognition of Australia’s position in the global climate agenda, UNAA Victoria and the City of Melbourne are partnering to deliver a series of seven events to highlight climate action and the localising of the United Nations’ 17 SDGs.

UNAA Victoria is dedicated to engaging local communities in advancing the SDGs, including those related to human rights and climate change.

City of Melbourne is a global leader on climate action and sustainability, winning the 2024 UN-Habitat Shanghai Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities. Melbourne was also the first Australian city to produce an SDGs Voluntary Local Review. Together, we play crucial roles in connecting the community to climate and sustainability action frameworks provided by the SDGs.

Our next event in the series will be held on 16 July and will look at climate and sustainable cities. More details soon.