Healthcare services are an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, yet there is limited evidence about how emissions can be monitored and reduced in remote and Aboriginal health settings. This HEAL Innovation Fund project explored pathways for decarbonising remote primary health care (PHC) services in Central Australia, while considering the organisational, operational and community contexts that shape climate action.
The pilot initially aimed to document the carbon footprint of remote PHC services, identify major greenhouse gas emission sources, explore opportunities to reduce emissions, and assess how these approaches could be applied in other remote settings. The project brought together the University of Canberra, Menzies School of Health Research and the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, strengthening collaboration between research and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service partners.
What did the project involve?
The research combined qualitative interviews with Congress staff and stakeholders involved in remote PHC delivery with community engagement exploring Aboriginal perspectives on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change mitigation. Culturally appropriate yarning and visual engagement approaches were used to support community perspectives and knowledge.
The project also investigated the availability of operational data needed to calculate the carbon footprint of remote health services. This revealed a significant challenge: routinely available data were not sufficient to comprehensively measure emissions. Rather than being simply a limitation, this became an important finding in its own right, highlighting methodological, organisational and data-related barriers to greenhouse gas accounting in remote healthcare.
Key findings and outcomes
The project identified important opportunities and challenges for reducing emissions in remote PHC, including:
- Significant gaps in the operational data needed to monitor greenhouse gas emissions.
- Organisational and methodological challenges associated with emissions accounting in remote health services.
- The importance of culturally appropriate community engagement in understanding climate change and supporting mitigation.
- The potential for Traditional Ecological Knowledge to strengthen climate literacy and support Indigenous-led climate action.
- A strong foundation for future research into sustainable and climate-resilient healthcare in remote Australia.
The project produced two complementary research manuscripts. One explores Aboriginal perspectives on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change mitigation, while the other examines the challenges of monitoring greenhouse gas emissions within remote PHC services. Together, the studies highlight both the technical challenges of healthcare decarbonisation and the importance of community-led approaches.
The project has established a methodological and partnership platform for future research, policy development and funding opportunities focused on reducing emissions while strengthening the sustainability and resilience of remote health systems. Findings will be further shared through the HEAL Conference 2026, peer-reviewed publications and engagement with HEAL Network members and collaborating organisations.
Researchers
- Dr Manoj Bhatta — University of Canberra — Chief Investigator
