QUEBEC, May 26, 2023 /CNW/ – Climate change affects us all. Warming temperatures and increased extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods and wildfires already pose a serious threat to our health and well-being. These events are becoming more frequent and serious. They increase costs and burden our health system and have a major impact on the mental health of individuals and communities.
Today, as part of the government of from Canada The National Adaptation Strategy and the Adaptation Action Plan of the Government of Canada announced to the Honorable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, that Health Canada $43 million to fund programs over the next five years that will support the health sector and the people in it Canada adapt to a changing climate. The National Adaptation Strategy was open to final comments from provinces, territories and National Indigenous Organizations and will be finalized shortly. The final strategy will help the government address the impacts of climate change on people’s lives Canada are already making and setting in motion the transformations needed to build a stronger, low-carbon healthcare system.
These investments will help protect individuals from existing and emerging health risks caused by climate change and build health systems that adapt to our changing climate. This includes, for example, supporting resilient and low-carbon health systems that can respond to the health risks of the changing climate, such as extreme heat.
As part of the National Adaptation Strategy, Health Canada will renew and expand existing health programs, including the HealthADAPT program and efforts to improve people’s health in Canada from extreme heat, including extreme indoor heat that is the leading cause of heat-related injuries and death in Canada. These initiatives address the health impacts of climate change and promote actions to protect populations from extreme heat, a growing and urgent health risk.
Quotes
“Climate change is the biggest health threat facing humans Canada and around the world. Our healthcare system plays an important role in preventing the health impacts of climate change, but we cannot do it alone. That’s why we’re working with partners across the country to protect individuals from extreme heat and create climate-resilient healthcare systems.”
Dear Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
“Climate change is having a profound impact on the mental health of people around the world Canada, especially in indigenous, rural and remote communities. The initiatives announced today will support more people at risk of the adverse health and mental health impacts of climate change and help build more resilient communities for generations to come.”
The Dear Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and Associate Minister of Health
“We cannot discuss climate change policy without discussing the very real impacts that a changing climate is already having on the health, safety and economy of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. While we must continue to fight climate change, we must also be better prepared for the effects we are already seeing. Adaptation is about reducing the effects of the changing climate on people and communities so that they are better prepared to respond and recover. from Canada The National Adaptation Strategy builds a path forward to not only adapt, but also thrive under changing circumstances. The government supports from Canada health sector by innovating and expanding initiatives, including HealthADAPT, to protect people’s health Canada during periods of extreme heat.”
The Dear Steven Guilbeault
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Quick Facts
The World Health Organization (WHO) has named climate change the biggest global threat to public health out of 21st century.
As part of its mandate, from Canada Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Teresa Tamis required to publish an annual report on the state of public health in Canada. Last year’s report, Mobilizing Public Health Action on Climate Change, discusses the impacts of climate change and health.
The Adaptation and Health System Resilience chapter of the national assessment of climate change and health, Health of Canadians in a Changing Climate, found that very few health authorities in Canada advanced efforts to identify and address climate-related health risks.
If no action is taken, the health impacts of climate change could come at a cost from Canada health care system billions of dollars and reduce economic activity by tens of billions of dollars over the coming decades.
from Canada health sector is responsible for about 5% of from Canada greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change and increased air pollution.
Every dollar spent on adjustment measures saves $13-$15, including both direct and indirect benefits to the entire economy.
Extreme heat is a growing problem in the Netherlands Canada. The extreme heat event of 2021 that occurred in British Columbia resulted in 619 deaths and 90% of them were over 60 years old. Of those who died, 98% died as a result of a heat-related injury suffered indoors. The heat dome was the deadliest natural hazard in Canadian history.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reported 36,706 heat-related emergency room visits Canada between 2004 and 2022.
Research of Quebec suggests that the expected costs to society associated with extreme heat are related to excess morbidity and mortality in Quebec between 2015 and 2065 is possible in total $33 billionincluded $370 million direct costs for the province. At the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) Canada have joined the WHO health program and committed to building climate-resilient and low-carbon sustainable health systems.
Health Canada is co-chair of the Climate-Resilient Health Systems Working Group of the Alliance on Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) led by the WHO.
Associated links
SOURCE Health Canada
View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2023/26/c7126.html