Climate change affects people, organizations, and communities in Simcoe Muskoka. It makes life harder and harms our physical and mental health. Although climate change is a serious threat, there is hope. By working together with our families, neighbours, local governments and organizations, we can adapt to challenges, lessen environmental impacts, reduce risks, and build climate resilience. These actions not only fight climate change but also improve health and strengthen communities for everyone to thrive. Many people and organizations in Simcoe Muskoka care and are already taking actions! Learn more about climate change and health, what the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is doing, and how you can take action.
Climate Change in Simcoe Muskoka
Knowing what our future climate might look like helps us to make smart choices and get ready for changes. In Simcoe Muskoka, we can expect warmer temperatures, more precipitation, and more extreme weather, like storms. These changes in the climate impact the environment around us and the systems and services we depend on (such as clean water), affecting our health in many ways. Changes in the climate include:
- We will experience warming temperatures. We will see more extreme heat events that are worse, last longer, and happen more often. Summers will be hotter and more humid. Winters will be milder with fewer cold days.
- We will see more rainy days and heavier rain throughout the year, except during summer. This can cause flooding. Summer rain will not increase much, even though it is getting hotter. This can lead to dry periods
- We will experience strong storms that happen more often. Storms that used to happen every 50 years may occur every 5-10 years in the future.
Climate Related Threats
We experience climate change through different hazards, including extreme heat, extreme weather, poor air quality, risks to food and water safety and security, vector-borne diseases, and ultraviolet radiation. Each of these hazards poses different health risks. Changes in temperatures, rain, and severe weather will affect these hazards and their health impacts.
Climate Change Affects Health and Well-being
Climate change is a serious threat to our health. It can harm our physical and mental well-being at any age and in many ways. Climate change can worsen existing health problems or create new ones. Some people are affected more than others, especially those already facing health and social challenges. Climate change can increase unfair differences in health within our communities and make it harder to deal with other threats. It also puts pressure on the systems and services we need for good health, like healthcare, public services, transportation, and education.
Climate change has a big impact on our health because if affects many parts of our lives, such as the air we breathe, the food we eat, where we live, our jobs, and access to services. You can say climate change affects everything, and everything affects our health.
Examples of Climate Health Impacts
Some health impacts of climate change by climate hazards include:
- Extreme Heat
- Increase risks of heat illness (e.g., heat stroke, heat exhaustion), heat-related deaths, and pregnancy complications. It can also worsen existing chronic health conditions and mental well-being.
- Learn more on our extreme heat web page.
- Extreme Weather and Weather Hazards
- Increase risk of injury, illness, or death. It can also lead to new or worsened mental health conditions.
- Learn more on our extreme cold, floods, and severe storms web pages.
- Poor Air Quality
- Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases
- Increase risk of diseases spread by ticks (e.g., Lyme disease), mosquitoes (e.g., West Nile virus), and other animals.
- Learn more on our Lyme disease and ticks and West Nile virus web pages.
- Food Safety and Security
- Increase risks of foodborne illness, reduced food security, and can have psychosocial health and cultural impacts.
- Learn more on our food safety and food and nutrition web pages.
- Water Safety and Security
- Increase risk of waterborne illnesses from bacteria and viruses, gastrointestinal illness, and illness from blue-green algae.
- Learn more on our safe water web page.
- Ultraviolet Radiation
- Increase risk of sun burns, skin cancer, skin aging, and cataracts.
- Learn more on our sun safety web page.
Health and Well-being Changes Risks to Climate Change
Climate change affects health outcomes, but health status and how health is distributed in a community also shape how climate change is experienced. The better the health status and distribution of health among individuals within a community, the better able they are able to cope with the impacts of climate change.
Understanding Health Risks from Climate Change
Climate change affects everyone, but some people face greater risks for health problems. These risks are influenced by factors like age, income, education, housing quality, and the areas where people live, work, and play. These factors are shaped by existing inequities in society such as racism, colonialism, poverty, and discrimination. Everyone has both factors of vulnerability and resilience. Some people face more risks, while others have more resources to help them cope.
People Most Affected
Populations that may be at higher risk of being harmed by climate change include:
- Children and youth
- Older adults
- Women
- People who are pregnant
- People who experience socioeconomic disadvantage
- People with existing chronic health conditions or disabilities
- People who experience mental health or substance use challenges
- People who experience social isolation or loneliness
- People who experience occupational or recreational exposure
- Indigenous, racialized, and equity-deserving communities
- Recent immigrants
Vulnerability and Resilience to Climate Change
Climate vulnerability and resilience are shaped by:
- Exposure - Some people have greater exposure to climate hazards because of where they live, work, learn, and play. We can reduce harms by making changes to our built and natural environment, and our behaviours to lower exposure to these health risks.
- Sensitivity - Some people are more sensitive to climate hazards due to factors such as age and health status. We can reduce harm by improving health status in our communities and providing extra support for those who need it most.
- Adaptive Capacity - Some people have more tools and resources available to them that help them stay protected from the health risks of climate change. We can reduce harm by helping people and communities improve their ability to stay safe from climate hazards and addressing inequities in society.
We can transform factors of vulnerability into factors of resilience!
Reducing Health Risks by Building Resilience Together
Taking action on climate change improves health, strengthens communities, and promotes better living. Climate resilience means being prepared and able to stay healthy as our climate changes. It helps us cope with climate related challenges like extreme weather. Building resilience means planning ahead, learning as we go, and working together to take action. Everyone has a role to play, including individuals, governments, communities, businesses, and organizations. By working together, we can cut emissions, adapt and ensure everyone has fair access to the things they need to be healthy. Climate resilience protects our health, reduces risks, and creates safer communities where everyone can thrive now and into the future.
What is SMDHU Doing
SMDHU works to assess and address the current and future health impacts of climate change. This involves:
- Surveillance and monitoring of health and equity impacts
- Communicating and engaging with different partners and audiences
- Working with partners to reduce exposure and sensitivity and increase adaptive capacity
- Strengthening public health capacity
Many SMDHU programs, actions, and services help address the health impacts of climate change and build healthy, thriving communities that are resilient to it. These efforts are informed by climate change and public health information. Examples include:
- Alerts and health information on extreme heat, cold, and air quality
- Planning for emergencies and extreme weather hazards
- Tick and mosquito surveillance
- Sharing information with the public on how to protect their health from climate related threats
- Initiatives to support healthy built environments
- Advocacy to support household food security
What You Can Do
Here are some actions you can take:
- Learn about it: Find out how climate change affects health, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family and contribute to community resilience.
- Take about it: Share what you learn with others. Talking helps raise awareness and build support for action. Speak up about why it matters to you, and the change you want to see. It can also feel good to talk about things that can be worrying.
- Be prepared: Know what to do and be prepared for extreme heat and extreme weather events like heat waves, floods, wildfires, smoke events, or severe storms.
- Reduce your impact: Take actions that reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. Many of these actions have added benefits for your physical and mental health. Some examples include:
- Saving energy and using green energy (e.g., solar) when you can.
- Driving less and using transit, walking, biking or carpooling more.
- Eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds and less meat and dairy.
- More examples can be found here.
- Get involved: Join local efforts (e.g., tree planting) in your communities.
What Others Are Doing in Simcoe Muskoka
Municipalities and other local organizations, such as conservation authorities and school boards, are all working to strengthen efforts to address climate change through climate adaptation and mitigation. Examples of local efforts can be found here.
