Canada’s Climate Health Crisis: The Urgent Call for Action from Health Leaders
Canada is facing a critical moment in its climate and health future, with extreme weather events and food systems driving an unprecedented health burden. The Lancet Countdown’s 2024 Policy Priorities for Canada lays out a roadmap for urgent action that policymakers can no longer afford to ignore. From health systems buckling under the pressure of extreme heat waves to deadly diets fueled by unsustainable practices, this report sounds the alarm – and provides solutions.
Published today by the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Nurses Association, and the Canadian Public Health Association, the 2024 Climate and Health Policy Priorities for Canada draws from the 2024 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change, a multi-disciplinary collaboration monitoring the links between health and climate change. This eighth edition of the Countdown report brings together 122 researchers from 57 academic institutions and UN agencies to provide decision-makers with high-quality evidence-based recommendations.
The 2024 Climate and Health Policy Priorities for Canada highlight three key areas where Canada can make the biggest difference to reduce the ever-growing impact of climate change on health:
- Invest in resilient health systems and adaptation;
- Empower health professionals as climate action advocates; and
- Promote sustainable, plant-rich diets.
The 2024 Climate and Health Policy Priorities for Canada highlights Canada’s pressing need for transformative policy and action to tackle the intertwined crises of health and climate change.
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QUOTES
"Our healthcare systems are on the frontlines of climate change—yet they remain woefully unprepared for the coming storms. The time to act is now, or we risk leaving the most vulnerable behind."
Sehjal Bhargava, MD, CCFP
Lead Author, 2024 Climate and Health Policy Priorities for Canada
"When red meat accounts for 33% of emissions in a hospital but only 3% of its menu, the irony is stark. A shift toward plant-based diets is no longer just about personal health; it's a national imperative for planetary health and climate survival."
Ian Culbert, Executive Director
Canadian Public Health Association
"The climate crisis is a health crisis. Every heatwave, flood, and wildfire is a reminder that our health systems need to be climate-resilient—and right now, they aren’t even close."
Dr. Joss Reimer, President
Canadian Medical Association
"Health professionals must become the voice of climate action, standing against misinformation and pushing for a future where planetary health and sustainability go hand in hand."
Valerie Grdisa, RN, PhD
President, Canadian Nurses Association