The climate crisis is a health crisis. We need action now to ensure Canadians can get the care they need.
How climate change impacts health and the health system
Climate change is making extreme heat, wildfires, tornadoes and flooding a new reality — and Canada’s warming at twice the global rate.
This puts Canadians’ health under threat and reduces care options. Climate shocks increase the risk of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, anxiety and depression. Aging health infrastructure – about half of facilities across the country are more than 50 years old – is ill-equipped for a changing environment.
Canada’s health system is also part of the problem, contributing more greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than shipping or aviation from standard practices across the continuum of care. We need a national approach to more sustainable, more climate-resilient health care.
Video Transcript
Climate change is a growing health threat.
Canada isn’t ready.
2023 was the worst wildfire season in Canada’s history.
Every province and territory was affected.
It’s just one of the many climate shocks already affecting health and health workers.
And Canada is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet.
Current health threats may intensify.
Extreme heat can damage the brain, the central nervous system and other organs.
Climate-related anxiety and depression are increasing.
New threats may emerge.
The health workforce is already in crisis across the country.
About half of Canada’s health care facilities are more than 50 years old, – ill-equipped to operate through climate emergencies.
Our health system is part of the problem, accounting for more greenhouse gas emissions than aviation and shipping.
In fact, Canada is one of the worst health care polluters per capita. The system’s carbon footprint is equivalent to 500 coal-fired power plants.
We can do better.
The Canadian Medical Association is calling on the federal government to establish a Climate and Health Secretariat.
It would facilitate a pan-Canadian approach to the health impacts of climate change
and work towards a climate-resilient and low-carbon health system.
One large-scale inspiration is England’s National Health Service.
It has cut emissions equivalent to powering more than one million homes.
A hospital in Birmingham performed the first net-zero surgery in 2022.
Canada must also adapt its health care system to the new reality we live in
and mitigate climate change for a healthier future.
Our health system can be good for the planet and for patients.
Sign up for more information at cma.ca/climate
Climate and health by the numbers
¼
180%
4.6%
The CMA’s work on climate and health
The CMA is raising awareness of the links between climate and health, both nationally and internationally.
The CMA was a key stakeholder in Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy. We support Choosing Wisely Canada, which promotes the reduction of unnecessary medical tests and treatments. We also work with leading partners such as CASCADES, the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, HealthCareCAN and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.
At a global level, the CMA is a strong advocate at events like COP29. In 2023, we were there for a landmark declaration by more than 120 countries to proactively address climate-change health impacts. We contribute annually to The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change, providing targeted recommendations for Canada, and collaborated on the WHO’s climate advocacy toolkit. In addition, we work with the Global Climate and Health Alliance, Healthcare without harm and ATACH.
What the CMA is calling for
An expanded federal response to climate change beyond Health Canada to include Environment Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, Infrastructure Canada and Public Safety Canada
New funding for sustainable health infrastructure and emergency preparedness
Elevation of Indigenous land-based approaches to addressing the climate crisis
The passage of Bill C-61N, an act to ensure clean, safe water on First Nations land, managed by Indigenous Peoples
A public mechanism to track progress on recommendations for health system resiliency outlined in Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy
The CMA is also putting our money where our mouth is, divesting from stakes in energy companies whose primary business relies on fossil fuels, with an overall goal to reach a net-zero GHG emissions investment portfolio by 2050.