Chief Public Health Officer of Canada’s Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2022: Mobilizing Public Health Action on Climate Change in Canada
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The climate crisis is an unequal health crisis
In the first section of the report, the authors explore the significance of a rapidly warming planet. Climate hazards (e.g. extreme weather events, heat stress, poor air quality) are linked to health impacts (e.g. injury, death, respiratory conditions) with an important discussion about the structures that drive climate vulnerability. Inequitable systems, such as colonization and racism, are named as reasons for why some people are more likely to be exposed to climate hazards, more likely to be susceptible, and less likely to adapt and recover.
A call for public health action and a vision for the way forward
The second section of the report calls for action in five key areas, recognizing the need for a consistent equity focus. (Notably, there is strong alignment between the action areas listed above and those recommended by the NCCDH in the 2021 practice brief Climate resilience part 2: public health roles and actions).
- “Implement a range of interventions to address immediate health challenges and prevent future health risks from a changing climate” (p.36)
- “Prioritize community expertise and engagement for equitable and effective climate action” (p. 40)
- “Advance knowledge to understand, predict, and respond to the health impacts of climate change” (p. 43)
- “Collaborate across sectors for transformative climate-health action and intersectoral co-benefits" (p. 49)
- “Strengthen public health leadership for climate action and public health building blocks for climate resilience” (p. 53)
The third section of the report explores how public health systems can shift to support climate action in each of the areas listed above. These include intentionally integrating climate change into public health systems, centering health in climate change action, and taking the necessary steps to transform the public health system and build a climate resilient workforce.
Use this resource to:
- Learn about how inequitable systems drive climate vulnerability
- Consider how you and your organization can intervene both upstream and downstream to address the health impacts of the climate crisis
- Plan for intentional public health action in five recommended areas
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Related Resources:
A vision to transform Canada’s public health system (2021)
Climate Change Resilience Part 2: Public health roles and actions (2021)
Climate change, health equity and public health responses: A curated list (2020)
Reference
Public Health Agency of Canada. Chief Public Health Officer of Canada’s Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2022: Mobilizing Public Health Action on Climate Change in Canada. Ottawa, ON: Public Health Agency of Canada; 2022.
Tags: Climate change, Public Health Agency of Canada, Report / Document