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How does climate change impact health care?
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The World Health Organization (WHO) identified climate change as this century’s single biggest health threat. Canada is warming at more than twice the global rate. Climate shocks — severe storms, floods and wildfires — negatively impact individual human health and wreak havoc on the system.
What is the impact on health?
Not only do extreme climate events cause injuries and deaths, but the climate crisis is making people sick:
- Climate-sensitive illnesses: More people are affected by seasonal flu, heat stroke and pest-related illnesses like Lyme disease.
- Poor air and water quality: Wildfire smoke increases asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is associated with increased long-term cancer rates; droughts and other climate events threaten access to drinking water.
- Deteriorating mental health: Eco-anxiety, or a chronic fear of environmental doom, is on the rise.
What does this mean for health care?
- More patients need care: The changing climate is reshaping why, how and when people get sick.
- Health care facilities face additional strain: For example, wildfires can cause a spike in hospital admissions for smoke-related illness, while smoke can also affect ventilation and sterilization.
- It can be difficult — or impossible — to provide care: Climate shocks can compromise electricity, water, food, roads and medical supplies — all essential for hospitals to stay open. When critical infrastructure fails, hospitals often have no option but to evacuate.
Let’s talk solutions
What experts are saying:
- Green the health system itself. Canada’s health care system is responsible for 4.6% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, making us one of the world’s worst health care polluters per capita. Environmentally sustainable health systems and a net-zero health system would make a meaningful contribution to fighting climate change.
- Build climate-resilient health facilities. Almost 50% of Canada’s health infrastructure, like hospitals, is more than 50 years old, making it especially vulnerable to extreme climate events.
- Raise awareness about climate and health. Health workers and patients need resources (for example this WHO toolkit) to help them prepare for the realities of the climate crisis.
Where’d we get this information?
- World Health Organization, including their climate change and health toolkit
- Health Canada, including their Health of Canadians in a Changing Climate report (2022)
- Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change (2023)
- Associated Press, The Globe and Mail
