The relationship between the environment, climate, and public health is inseparable, as the health of populations depends on the stability and safety of their surroundings. With the rapid changes in global climate, public health systems face escalating challenges that require innovative, adaptive solutions. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and shifting ecosystems contribute to a host of public health crises, including heat-related illnesses, water security, and permanently altered environment. These environmental changes not only threaten individual well-being but also place significant political and economic burdens on communities, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. Addressing these challenges involves understanding the historical interplay between climate and health, recognizing the current obstacles, assessing community impacts, and responding to the global climate emergency.
As natural disasters have increased in occurrence in Canada. As a result, wild fires, air quality, floods and heat waves have had a more profound effect on our population.
Canada has advanced environmental public health since the 1950s but faces ongoing challenges from climate risks, economic pressures, and political complexities. Recent efforts emphasize resilience, equity, and collaboration.
Indigenous and Northern Communities
Climate change disproportionately impacts rural, northern, and Indigenous communities in Canada, worsening health disparities, threatening water access, and disrupting traditional ways of life.