Vital Perspectives - Climate Change and Health
Vital Perspectives is a four-part story series about some of the broadest public health issues of our time and how they impact individual and population health in Oxford County, Elgin County, and the City of St. Thomas. They amplify the vital perspectives of those with lived experience, public health professionals, and community partners.
Part two
Climate change is a health emergency. We can see the accelerated changes in climate through forest fires, severe storms, floods, and extreme weather events. There are also slower-onset hazards, including increased diseases, droughts, impacts to mental health, and other climate-related health risks.
Not everyone experiences the health impacts of climate change in the same way: agricultural communities, older adults, outdoor workers, people experiencing homelessness, immigrants, and Indigenous people are particularly vulnerable to these risks. Southwestern Public Health and other health units play a critical role in reducing climate-related health risks to encourage resilient, healthy communities that can adapt to our changing climate. There is hope for a brighter future.
Infographics: How climate change impacts health for vulnerable populations
There is a pressing need to address climate change impacts on health, particularly for vulnerable populations, as climate-related health risks are not experienced equally by all populations.
SWPH, in collaboration with the University of Waterloo’s Climate Institute, conducted an assessment report of the vulnerability of communities in the region such as Amish and Low German Speaking Mennonite communities, outdoor workers, immigrants, Indigenous communities, older adults, those experiencing homelessness, and others, who may experience heightened susceptibility to climate-related health risks. This is due to a combination of factors, such as elevated levels of exposure from working conditions, limited access to health resources and advice in different languages, age or structural barriers which have historically left populations vulnerable to the different impacts.
Report: Climate change and health vulnerability assessment
In spring 2024, Southwestern Public Health published an assessment report in collaboration with the Climate Institute of Waterloo. This report documents a number of changes that are already occurring and impacting the health of the region, and describes how continued changes in temperature and precipitation patterns will increase the risks of extreme weather, vector-borne and zoonotic disease, and psychological health impacts.
The assessment provides recommendations for SWPH and representatives of broader communities - including municipalities, conservation authorities, and individuals - to enhance the climate and health resilience of the region.
Core themes:
- It is expected that by the 2080s, Oxford County, Elgin County and the City of St. Thomas will experience a significant rise in the number of days surpassing 32C;
- Similarly, by the 2080s, extreme cold days in the region will decline to 0 days and the number of frost days are expected to decline by up to 70 days in Oxford County, 73 days in Elgin County, and 55 days in the City of St. Thomas from a baseline of 128 days;
- As the projected average temperature increases, new species of vectors capable of transmitting diseases to humans are expected to become established in the SWPH region, such as Avian Influenza from migratory birds, diseases from ticks, and West Nile Virus from mosquitoes;
- Certain population subgroups and communities are more severely affected by climate change because of varying exposure, sensitivity, and ability to take protective measures against hazards.