Policy Responses of Australian Governments to the Health Consequences of Greenhouse Gas and Brown Pollution in the Urban Planning, Environment, and Energy Sectors.

Abstract Greenhouse gas and brown pollution from urban land uses, transport, infrastructure, and energy generation harms population health and health equity. This article reports on an standard document analysis of policies from the urban planning (land use, transport, infrastructure, housing), energy, and environment sectors of Australian state, territory, and federal governments and their responses to the health and health equity implications of greenhouse gas and brown pollution from their sector. Our analysis shows there is awareness in all jurisdictions and sectors of their contribution to greenhouse gas pollution but significantly less when it comes to brown pollution. It also shows that commitment to action on reducing pollution varies between jurisdictions and between sectors within jurisdictions. In conclusion, Australia could do significantly more to reduce the health harms from urban pollution through more innovative and coordinated policy responses across jurisdictions and sectors.