title: Core health promotion competencies in Australia: are they compatible with climate change action?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Health promotion principles for practice are closely aligned with that of environmental sustainability. Health promotion practitioners are well positioned to take action on climate change. However, there has been scant discussion about practice synergies and subsequently the type and nature of professional competencies that underpin such action.
  
  
  METHODS
  This commentary uses the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA) national core competencies for Health Promotion Practitioners as a basis to examine the synergies between climate change and health promotion action.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrate that AHPA core competencies, such as program planning, evaluation and partnership building, are highly compatible for implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. We use food security examples to illustrate this case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There appears to be considerable synergy between climate change and health promotion action. This should be a key focus of future health promotion competency development in Australia.
authors.affiliation: School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria. rebecca.patrick@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D057231:Climate Change; D003142:Communication; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011361:Professional Competence; D016730:Program Development