On Thursday, AMA president Brian Owler said that the Australian Academy of Science's latest report calls for action by the federal government to prepare for the major impacts of climate change.

The report named, 'Climate change challenges to health: Risks and opportunities' is the latest comprehensive study that has provided scientific evidence of significant threat that climate change poses to worldwide health.

It was co-launched by Owler with president of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Andrew Holmes, at Parliament House in Canberra this morning. The report includes extreme weather events, the spread of diseases, disrupted supplies of food and water, and threats to livelihoods and security.

According to Owler, it should act as catalyst for the federal authorities to show leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris later this year.

Owler said, "The Report brings together high level research across science, social science, and technology to provide a comprehensive overview that fills the knowledge gap on the impacts of climate change on human health".

The report mentioned about the health effects caused by climate change. It includes increased heat-related illness and deaths, increased food and water borne diseases, and changing patterns of diseases. In addition, droughts, flooding, and storms could be responsible for death and disease.

Owler mentioned that the report's recommendations will aid all our governments to prepare for the inevitable health and social effects of climate change and extreme weather events. The plan would act as a key reference in Paris Climate Change Conference.

The objective of the conference is to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate from all nations of the world.

The AMA believes that Australia should show leadership in addressing climate change and the effects it is has and will have on human health.