Climate change

Quick links

• Air quality
• Extreme temperatures
• Extreme weather and natural hazards
• Food and water-borne illness
• Ultraviolet radiation
• Vector-borne disease

What is climate change?

Climate change is defined as long-term changes in climate conditions, such as changes in temperature, precipitation, wind and other indicators. Climate change refers to both changes in the average conditions of a region, as well as changes in the variability and frequency of incidents such as extreme weather events.

How does climate change affect health?

Climate change impacts the health of all people, and is experienced locally, provincially, nationally and globally. Potential health impacts are varied and can be direct, such as:

• Increased illness, injury and death from extreme temperature or weather events
• Increased risk of food- and water-borne illness
• Increased risk of vector-borne infectious diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile virus
• Increased risk of respiratory diseases from poor air quality

or indirect:

• Psychosocial impacts like stress, anxiety and other impacts to mental health
• Changes to the quality and quantity of food
• Population displacement

Who is vulnerable to climate change?

All people in Canada are vulnerable to health risks associated with climate change. However, climate change affects some people more than others. You may be more vulnerable if you:

• Have an existing health condition
• Are more exposed to a hazard
• Face challenges in taking protective measures

Many factors influence vulnerability to the health impacts of climate change. Examples of these factors include:

• Age
• Culture
• Income
• Education
• Housing quality
• Physical environment, that is the:
  • Natural environment
  • Built environment, such as buildings, roads and walkways

Other factors that put specific people or groups at higher risk may also stem from existing inequities in society, such as those related to racism, poverty, colonialism, sex and gender, homelessness, and access to health care.

Populations that may be at higher risk of being harmed by the impacts of climate change include:

• Infants and young children
• Older adults
• Indigenous Peoples and/or those with a close relationship to the land
• People with chronic medical conditions (e.g., heart disease, respiratory conditions, diabetes) or mental illnesses (e.g., schizophrenia, depression, dementia)
• People with limited physical mobility
• People on certain types of medications (for high blood pressure, for mental illnesses, etc.)
• People living in a remote area/community or who live alone
• People who are underhoused or experiencing homelessness
• People who are pregnant
• People who work outdoors
• People who exercise vigorously outdoors (e.g., playing sports, cycling, gardening)

KFL&A Public Health works closely with partners to help our community minimize the effects of, and adapt to, the increasing impacts of climate change.