Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency for the Health Care Sector

The report argues that climate change poses a significant threat to public health and the delivery of health services in Canada, necessitating a shift toward resilient infrastructure and sustainable practices. It highlights that Canadian hospitals are among the most energy-inefficient in OECD northern climates and face risks from extreme weather, particularly in northern and coastal areas. The document recommends investing in renewable energy, implementing Green Revolving Funds, and conducting climate resiliency assessments. It also suggests leveraging the trusted status of health professionals to drive public behavior change and utilizing institutional lands for ecosystem services to improve public well-being.

• Climate change is identified as a major threat to global and Canadian public health, with Canada expecting more frequent and severe heat waves, smog, floods, ice storms, wildfires, and droughts.
• Extreme weather events disrupt health service delivery and damage infrastructure, with impacts being especially severe in coastal and northern regions, including First Nations areas.
• The Canadian health care sector is highly energy-intensive; hospitals are among the most inefficient in OECD countries with northern climates, and infrastructure renewal needs are estimated at $28 billion.
• Implementing energy efficiency measures could save the sector approximately $150 million annually from its $1 billion utility costs, which could be redirected to patient care.
• Green Revolving Funds (GRFs), pioneered in Canada by British Columbia’s Lower Mainland Health Authorities, allow energy efficiency savings to be reinvested into future sustainability projects.
• Combined heat and power (CHP) systems are highlighted as effective for maintaining hospital operations during extreme weather, as evidenced by hospitals on the US east coast during Super Storm Sandy.
• There is a systemic lack of climate change resiliency assessments and reliable carbon footprinting within Canadian health care facilities to prioritize adaptation strategies.
• Institutional lands can be used to provide ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration and heat island reduction, similar to the NHS Forest project in the UK.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2016). Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency for the Health Care Sector. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1.-Green-Health-Care-submission-for-the-consideration-of-Federal-Provincial-Territorial-Working-Group-on-Adaptation-and-Climate-Resilience-August-2016.pdf#new_tab

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency for the Health Care Sector. 2016. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1.-Green-Health-Care-submission-for-the-consideration-of-Federal-Provincial-Territorial-Working-Group-on-Adaptation-and-Climate-Resilience-August-2016.pdf#new_tab.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency for the Health Care Sector |date=18 August 2016 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1.-Green-Health-Care-submission-for-the-consideration-of-Federal-Provincial-Territorial-Working-Group-on-Adaptation-and-Climate-Resilience-August-2016.pdf#new_tab |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2016climate, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency for the Health Care Sector}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2016}, month = aug, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1.-Green-Health-Care-submission-for-the-consideration-of-Federal-Provincial-Territorial-Working-Group-on-Adaptation-and-Climate-Resilience-August-2016.pdf#new_tab}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }