Media Advisory: Launching Canada-specific Lancet Countdown Brief with health and climate change data

OTTAWA – As part of the Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change, co-authors will present key findings and recommendations from both the international report and the Lancet Countdown Policy Brief: Canada in 2017, a Canadian-specific brief that focuses on key indicators that are particularly relevant in the Canadian context.

The human symptoms of climate change are unequivocal and potentially irreversible – affecting the health of populations around the world. While these effects will disproportionately impact the most vulnerable in society, every community will be affected. The delayed response to climate change over the past 25 years has jeopardised human life and livelihoods. New research to be published October 31st in the Lancet shows that climate change is already a significant public health issue and a looming global health emergency.

At this event, co-authors will highlight findings–outlined in both the Lancet Countdown international report  and the Canada-specific brief—that demonstrate various ways climate change is already affecting the health of people in Canada and across the planet, today. Canadian co-authors will also share policy recommendations on how Canada can best tackle climate change. Leading doctors, academics and policy professionals from 24 partner organisations have contributed analysis and jointly authored the international report.

When: November 2, 2017 | 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.| Presentation and Q&A 

Where: Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario | 4-1 Smyth Rd, Ottawa | Max Keeping Wing, Room W1308 | Webcast

Who:    Speakers include:

• Alex Munter, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario – Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre
• Dr. Kris Murray, Lecturer at The Grantham Institute for Climate Change at the Imperial College London and international Lancet Countdown co-author
• Dr. Courtney Howard, President-elect at the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and Canada-specific Lancet Countdown brief co-author
• Dr. Trevor Hancock, Professor and Senior Scholar at the University of Victoria and Canada-specific Lancet Countdown brief co-author

About the Lancet Countdown

The Lancet Countdown is an international research collaboration, providing a global overview of the relationship between public health and climate change. Publishing its findings in the Lancet medical journal, the initiative aims to help inform an accelerated response to climate change. Between now and 2030, this multidisciplinary partnership comprised of 24 academic institutions from every continent will be publishing yearly data-driven reports monitoring developments across a range of indicators on climate change health impacts, adaptation planning and resilience for health, mitigation actions and health co-benefits, economics and finance, and public and political engagement.