The federal government is investing more than $17 million through its Climate Change and Health Capacity Building program to support 24 community projects that help Canada’s health care sector adapt to climate change.
The program includes two streams: climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems (HealthADAPT) and protecting Canadians from extreme heat (HeatADAPT).
“Climate change is already affecting people’s health, from extreme heat to poor air quality,” said Minister of Health Marjorie Michel. “We’re working with partners across the country to strengthen our health system so it can better respond and protect Canadians when these impacts happen.”
More than $13 million has been allocated through HeatADAPT. The University of British Columbia and B.C.’s Provincial Health Services Authority together received nearly $1.1 million in funding.
UBC’s research is examining the complex health risks that individuals with schizophrenia face during extreme heat events and chronic heat exposure. This will help to develop critical insights into the roles housing security, indoor environmental quality and social inequities play in vulnerability to heat and other climate change events. B.C.’s Provincial Health Services Authority’s work will strengthen partnerships, research and data expertise to better understand and respond to extreme heat impacts, including heat-related illness and mortality.
Other examples include the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, which is developing toolkits and policy guides to reduce the impacts of extreme indoor heat in hospitals, long-term care facilities and residential care homes, while Newfoundland and Labrador is creating a Heat Alert and Response System to better prepare for such events.
As part of HealthADAPT, nearly $4 million has been allocated to organizations across Canada for six projects. The University of Alberta is developing evidence-based guidance, training, and education programs to build a climate-ready health workforce. The City of Ottawa will accelerate early targeted actions identified in its vulnerability assessment, such as equity-focused communication and cooling options. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia Health Authority will conduct a climate change and health vulnerability assessment to better understand the health impacts to its central zone population and improve climate resilience and health outcomes.
