Urban Heat Island Analysis in York Region Municipal Leaders Forum Canada Green Building Council Greater Toronto Chapter Helen Doyle, Public Health Branch Teresa Cline, Long Range Planning Branch June 2014
Overview Study Background Urban Heat Island in York Region Recommendations Next Steps Slide 2
Collaboration with Health Canada 1. Extreme Heat Monitoring 2. Urban Heat Island (UHI) Analysis Health Canada will share the York Region Analysis as Case Study Slide 3
Inter-departmental Collaboration Long Range Planning Health Protection Division, Public Health Branch Geographic Information Services (GIS) Cross-functional team established to undertake UHI Analyis Slide 4
Benefits of Collaboration Increase capacity Efficient use of resources Identification of synergies Strengthen working relationships Slide 5
Supports Strategic Documents Improve Social and Health Supports and Focus Growth Along Centres and Corridors Slide 6
Urban Heat Island Create a Table Describes differential heating between urban and rural areas Slide 7
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On the ground New Residential Industrial/Employment Naturalized Area Slide 10
Vulnerable Populations General Population Seniors (65+) Young children Health Canada (2011) Slide 11
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Recommendations: Four Action Areas 1. Design and Construction: Increase the Use of Cool Design and Construction Practices and Materials 2. Green Spaces Increase and Improve Vegetative Cover on Public and Private Lands 3. Community Vulnerability Reduce Community Vulnerability to Heat, with a Focus on Vulnerable Populations 4. Research and Surveillance Improve the Quality and Availability of UHI and Heat Health Data Slide 13
Increase the Use of Cool Design and Construction Practices and Materials Monitor implementation of ROP policies on Sustainable Buildings and New Communities Partner with CAs, municipalities and other partners on projects that demonstrate cool design, construction and materials Explore expansion of Regional sustainable development incentive program to include cooling strategies Slide 14
ncrease and Improve Vegetative Cover on Public and Private Lands Review Regional urban tree planting targets and prioritize planting locations using UHI information Support programs that increase naturalization of Regional properties and parking facilities Partner with municipalities and CAs to create an integrated and connected natural heritage, parks and open spaces system Slide 15
Reduce Community Vulnerability to Heat with a Focus on Vulnerable Populations Partner with municipalities to improve consistency for heat alert and response plans Research prevalence of air conditioning in LTC/Daycares and encourage availability of cool spaces Increase awareness of heat health risks among LTC/Daycare staff Outreach program for seniors in preparation for, and during extreme heat events Slide 16
Improve the Quality and Availability of UHI and Heat Health Data Partner with federal, provincial, municipal and other agencies to enhance data (e.g. heat-related morbidity and mortality, weather data, UHI data, A/C availability, spatial data such as parks and green space) Updates to UHI Analysis Share data Public Education Campaigns Research Cool Park Design Standards Monitor Uptake of Sustainable Development Programs Slide 17
Next Steps Finalize Report Submit final version to Health Canada (may be used as a case study nationally) Share report finding internally and externally Local Municipalities School Boards Slide 18