Algoma Public Health
The climate crisis is a public health emergency.
Thu, Jul 29, 2021
It’s time to sound the alarm on climate change and advocate for commitment by federal, provincial, and municipal stakeholders to not only acknowledge climate change as a public health emergency, but to also take action and provide immediate support for climate change mitigation and adaptation in local communities.
Join @Sault Climate Hub and communities across Canada on Thursday, July 29th at 5pm to advocate for greater action to address climate change from all levels of government – make a sign and post online to amplify your efforts, and start meaningful conversation with friends and family.
Climate change poses direct and indirect threats to public health, and is considered the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century. Unfortunately, the health effects of a changing climate are already being felt by many, and projections indicate a catastrophic risk to human health in the years to come.
Climate change is impacting the health of all people through extreme heat-related illness and death, extreme weather events (e.g. more flooding), poor air quality related to increased forest fires, food and water contamination, altered exposure to UV rays, increased risks of vector-borne infectious diseases, and food security, in addition to many indirect impacts. We can see the implications of a changing climate today – through increased forest fires and smoke leading to more air quality alerts in Algoma and evacuations across the province.
These severe environmental events will affect us all, impacting the health and well-being of Algoma. At APH, we are working to better understand the health impacts experienced by those living in Algoma by conducting a climate change and health vulnerability and adaption assessment, as well as assessing and prioritizing adaptation action to lessen the community health impacts from the hazards that a changing climate can generate.
Together with our partners, we are also working to enhance existing programming and community initiatives that have co-benefits to climate change and health. Strategies like transitioning to a low-carbon economy and taking action to protect against the impacts of climate change have immediate benefits to health. The time for action on climate change is now.
Interested in learning more about the link between climate and health, or the position of public health on climate change? Check out the Climate Change and Health resource bank by the Association of Local Public Health Agencies.
Share a photo of your climate action and advocacy online to start a #climate conversation with others and encourage climate policy at all levels of government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, while supporting local communities to manage the impacts of a changing climate through adaptation funding and resources.