Health in a Changing Climate: Impacts and Opportunities for Canada and BC

Transcription

1 Health in a Changing Climate: Impacts and Opportunities for Canada and BC Peter Berry Ph.D. Climate Change and Health Office Health Canada September 16, 2014 BC Healthy Communities Webinar Series

2 Climate Change Risks To Health 2

3 A Call to Action for Health The evidence is overwhelming. Climate change endangers human health. Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General, WHO, 2014 But Also American Public Health Association (2010), Lancet Commission (2010), and US Environmental Protection Agency (2013) 3

4 Growing Knowledge of Health Impacts Climate Change and Health in British Columbia (2010) Climate Change: Mastering the Public Health Role (2011) Climate Change, the Indoor Environment, and Health (2011) Climate Change and Communicable Diseases in the EU Member States USA - Climate Change and Health - A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change (2010) Collaborative Change A Communication Framework for Climate Change Adaptation and Food Security (2010) IPCC Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (2014) 4

5 Health Impacts of Climate Change Extreme Events Gradual Change Natural Environment Built Environment Social Environment Determinants of Health Physical Environment Personal Health Practices Employment/ Working Conditions Health and Social Services Social Networks Culture Health Impacts Temperature- related Illnesses Vector-borne diseases Effects of water and food contamination Air-pollution health effects Extreme weather events Social and economic changes 5

6 Assessment Update 2014 Canada in a Changing Climate: Sector Perspectives on Impacts and Adaptation Update to the 2008 report From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate Assesses literature published since 2007 on climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability in Canada Includes chapters on natural resources, food production, industry, biodiversity and protected areas, human health, and water and transportation infrastructure. Targets decision-makers from government, business and industry, science and policy advisors and university level instructors and students 6

7 Assessment Update 2014 Health Chapter 7

8 Canada s Changing Climate Canada s changing climate affects pathways through which impacts on the health of Canadians and the health sector occur Increasing Precipitation Decreasing sea ice extent Amount of warming varies across Canada Warming trend of 1.5 C 8

9 There is stronger evidence of the wide range of health risks to Canadians posed by a changing climate 9

10 Health Risks from Impacts on Air Quality Ambient Air Climate change will increase health risks from poor air quality (e.g., O3, PM, alleroallergens) Between 1995 and 2009, the length of the ragweed season increased by 27 days in Saskatoon and 25 days in Winnipeg 10

11 Health Risks from Impacts on Air Quality Indoor Air Asthma could be impacted if indoor air quality worsens because of efforts to reduce the GHG footprint of buildings and through impacts of extreme weather (e.g., molds caused by flooding) 11

12 Food and Water Quality at Risk Greater confidence of link between cases of salmonellosis and higher temperatures and between acute gastrointestinal illness and both high and very low precipitation levels Limited information on climate change impacts on food security and health in southern Canada but significant concern in northern Canada Climate change could affect pathways by which chemical contamination occurs in water bodies (e.g, pesticides, nutrients, POPs) through flooding, storms and precipitation 12

13 Risks to Food in British Columbia Fraser River sockeye salmon in decline due to trends in water temperatures Significant economic and cultural implications for British Columbia 13

14 Vector-borne Disease Emergence in Canada Emergence of Lyme risk in the Canadian environment is underway - the annual incidence of Lyme disease has increased from approx 30 cases a year to over 600 in recent years Lyme vector is spreading into Canada at a rate of 35-55km per year 14

15 Lyme Disease Cases in BC, BC Annual Summary of Reportable Diseases,

16 A range of climate-related natural hazards continue to impact communities, presenting increasing risks to health in the future 16

17 Increased Frequency and Severity of Natural Hazards Climate change can result in unprecedented extreme events with severe impacts on individuals and communities Limited surveillance of health impacts from extreme weather events in Canada national level data are sparse Storms can affect health through the disruption of medical care and other social services 17

18 Recent Weather-Related Disasters in Canada Outline 2010: BC Flooding Parts of the central coast and northern Vancouver Island suffered severe flooding in September 2010 resulting in roads being washed away, evacuations and a state of emergency (Port Hardy). 2013: Calgary Flood - In the days leading up to June 20, 2013, Alberta experienced heavy rainfall that triggered catastrophic flooding which was the worst in provincial history Four people were confirmed dead as a direct result of the flooding and over 100,000 people were displaced throughout the region. Total damage estimates exceeded $5 Billion. 2011: Wildfires and then Floods in Slave Lake - One-third of the homes and businesses in Slave Lake (about 400 structures) were incinerated in the wildfires in May Total damage was $700 Million. Three weeks after the fire storm 17 consecutive days of rain caused widespread flooding as did another deluge July

19 Extreme Heat in Canadian Communities 19

20 Extreme Heat in British Columbia A 2009 extreme heat event in British Columbia contributed to 156 excess deaths in the province s lower mainland area 20

21 Drought Impacts on Health Droughts can lead to lower groundwater levels and stream flows, increase wind erosion of soils, and cause cracking of cisterns and cracked septic tanks and therefore increase in water borne pathogens and water contamination leading to gastroenteritis Droughts can facilitate spread of certain vectorborne diseases and lead to suboptimal nutrition due to food shortages, lack of food availability, and high costs Droughts can also increase stress and mental health issues 21

22 Cryptococcus gattii Rates in BC, BC Annual Summary of Reportable Diseases,

23 Psychosocial Impacts of Climate Change Berry et al.,

24 Preparing for the Health Impacts 24

25 Provincial, territorial and local health authorities are gaining more knowledge of climate change and health vulnerabilities through assessments and targeted research 25

26 Toward Health Adaptation Action Recognition Increased awareness Groundwork Assessments Adaptation research Conceptual tools Stakeholder networking Policy recommendations Adaptation Action Legislation Departmental development Public outreach Surveillance/monitoring Infrastructure/technology Program evaluations Financial support Medical interventions Lesnikowski, et al.,

27 EM Action With and Without Adaptation EM Action Hazard Risk Vulnerability Assessment Disaster mitigation Disaster planning Table top exercises Surveillance Response and recovery Increasing planning capacity EM + Adaptation HRVA integrating climate change + CC assessments Disaster mitigation informed by CC drivers (e.g, UHI) Disaster plans informed by CC (eg., simultaneous events) TTX with CC scenario Monitoring new health risks Activate surge capacity Partners with CC knowledge, staff aware of CC risks 27

28 Adaptation Progress in Bangladesh Improved disaster education, early warning systems, network of cyclone shelters ot.com/crises/bangladesh-cyclone 2007 Cyclone Sidr 3,400 deaths 1991 cyclone 140,000 deaths ws.com/id/ /ns/technology_ and_sciencescience/t/deadliest -storms-history/ Cyclone Bhola (1970) 500,000 deaths IPCC,

29 Adaptation tools and measures, such as heat alert and response systems, projections of vector-borne disease expansion and greening urban environments can help protect Canadians from the effects of climate change being felt now and those from future impacts 29

30 Actions to address secondary health impacts New Health Adaptation Areas Vulnerability assessments of high risk populations Increasing resiliency of health facilities Use of new adaptation technologies New Health Adaptations Advice to health care providers Preventative adaptation measures 30

31 State of Health Adaptation in Canada Adaptation can contribute to the wellbeing of current and future populations, the security of assets and the maintenance of ecosystem services now and in the future as the climate changes Relative to other countries Canada is making progress on health adaptation Canadian expertise on climate change and health issues is growing and many universities and organizations are undertaking research in this area Few health authorities at regional and local levels have conducted full climate change and health vulnerability assessments Has been increase in number of provinces and territories that have included climate change and health information and considerations in their climate change plans 31

32 Health Portfolio Actions to Protect Canadians 32

33 Helping Canadians Prepare for Climate Change Impacts on northern Canadians Climate-related infectious diseases Extreme heat and health 33

34 Developing Heat Resilient Communities and Individuals Goal: In partnership with provinces and communities, expand HARS to increase the resilience of Canadians to the health risks of extreme heat events Four areas of activity: i) Heat health messaging to support personal adaptation ii) iii) iv) Heat-Health Science: Address critical knowledge gaps Clinical training: Enable health professionals to better advise, diagnose and treat their clients Expansion of HARS to communities across Canada 34

35 Collaboration with Partners Example Initiatives British Columbia PICSs climate change and health information on website Alberta development of a provincial wide HARS Manitoba provincial wide HARS, development of Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Tool, development of disaster psychosocial response framework, economic costs of climate change health impacts Quebec climate change and health research and adaptation development under provincial plan 35

36 Collaboration with Partners Example Initiatives Ontario update to Health Hazard Protocol, coordination of community HARS (CAP), CC and health workshop Windsor measures to reduce UHI Middlesex London climate change and health vulnerability assessment Ottawa heat TTX, heat health vulnerability assessment, reduction of UHI Toronto heat preparation for Pan Am Games Kingston real-time surveillance health effects of extreme heat 36

37 Health Care Facility Resiliency Tool Project Objectives: a. Increase awareness of the impacts of climate change on health care facilities in Canada b. Develop a toolkit to enable health care facility officials to assess resiliency to climate change c. Develop resources and best practices to help health care facilities become more resilient to climate change 37

38 Health Care Facility Resiliency Toolkit 1) Facilitator Presentation 1 2 2) Health Care Facility Resiliency Checklist 3) Best Practices and Resources

39 THANK-YOU For more information, please contact: Peter Berry 39