Climate Change Response by Happenstance: Public Health and the Built Environment April, 2013 Charles Gardner Medical Officer of Health

Built Environment Local public health agencies have been very active in recent years on health-promoting built environments

Meanwhile, population health impacts of climate change are happening and anticipated Source: Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Source:Source:

Some of us have reported on this to our communities Source: AHEAD OF THE STORM … Preparing Toronto for Climate Change. Development of a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Toronto Environment Office in Collaboration with the City of Toronto Climate Adaptation Steering Group and the Clean Air Partnership. April 18, 2008

Despite this, Canadians have yet to start mitigating climate change. (Others have started.) Source Low-Carbon Energy Futures: A Review of National Scenarios © 2013 Trottier Energy Futures Project.A Review of National Scenarios © 2013 Trottier Energy Futures Project.

There is still denial—Most Canadians and Americans believe that climate change is important, but also believe it is “others” who are at risk Source: Public Perceptions of Climate Change as a Human Health Risk: Surveys of the United States, Canada and Malta. Akerlof, K., et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2010 June7 (6).

Ontario Local Public Health Activities on Climate Change Adaptation Developing protocols and response plans for extreme weather events with an emphasis on extreme heat events. Conducting surveillance – extreme heat, air quality, vector-borne diseases, water quality. Participating on the development of Climate Change Adaptation / Emergency Plans with municipal partners. Identifying vulnerable populations and conducting vulnerability assessments. Developing and disseminating messaging on health protection and adaptation measures. Source: (Survey of Ontario Health Units – Helen Doyle, Manager, Health Protection Division, York Region)

Mitigation and Adaptation: Two Sides of the Same Coin Source: AHEAD OF THE STORM….Preparing Toronto for Climate Change. Development of a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Toronto Environment Office In Collaboration With the City Of Toronto Climate Adaptation Steering Group and the Clean Air Partnership. April 18, 2008

A happy coincidence: Healthy design also mitigates climate change. LEED for Neighborhood Development criteria: Walkable Streets Compact Development Connected and Open Community Mixed-Use Neighborhood Centers Mixed-Income Diverse Communities Reduced Parking Footprint Street Network Transit Facilities Transportation Demand Management Access to Civic and Public Spaces Access to Recreation Facilities Local Food Production Tree-Lined and Shaded Streets Neighborhood Schools Green Infrastructure and Buildings Adapted from Source: The LEED-ND Rating System was created by the Congress for the New Urbanism, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the U.S. Green Building Council.

Carbon emissions per capita (metric tons), 2005 Persons per acre of developable land, 2005 The potential to improve: Denser metro areas tended to have lower carbon footprints Source: Blueprint for American Prosperity. Unleashing the Potential of a Metropolitan Nation. SHRINKING THE CARBON FOOTPRINTOF METROPOLITAN AMERICA. Brown, M.A., Southworth, F., Sarzynski, A., May

Public Health’s Trump Card: “Health benefits” can prompt support for “mitigation-related policy action” Source: Reframing climate change as a public health issue: an exploratory study of public reactions. Maibach, EW, et.al. BioMed Central Public Health Jun

Much local public health work is also happening on mitigation Health promotion campaigns such as 20/20 The Way to Clean Air, Clean Air Day, Earth Week, anti- idling, school travel planning Promoting green energy, energy conservation, active transportation, green fleets, green building design Participating on, or leading, the development of Climate Change and Air Quality Strategies (addressing both mitigation and adaptation) Participating in FCM’s Partners for Climate Protection Program Providing input on land use planning policies e.g. official plans, sustainability plans Advocating for provincial legislation and policies e.g. Provincial Policy Statement, AQHI, Provincial Climate Change Plan Source: Survey of Ontario Health Units – Helen Doyle, Manager, Health Protection Division, York Region

Where may more action on mitigation take us? Leading by example: –Local public health office and business practice greening –Green public health communication / collaboration / continuing education / conferences. Advocacy for climate change mitigation policy, commitments and actions by our governments (local, provincial, national). Collaboration with new partners for effective action internationally. Coming full circle – enhanced effectiveness in addressing the more “down stream” public health issues of the day (obesity, chronic diseases, air quality, injuries, social cohesion).

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Mohandas Gandhi