Take Action on Climate Change to Protect Human Health

The document outlines the physical and mental health risks posed by climate change, such as increased heat-related deaths, air pollution, and the spread of insect-borne diseases like Lyme Disease in Canada. It cites the World Health Organization's view of climate change as the 21st century's greatest health challenge and echoes the IPCC's call to cut emissions by 45% by 2030. The text also details global impacts, including lethal heat waves and economic losses from extreme weather, and provides a list of advocacy actions for health professionals and the public to influence Canadian federal policy.

• Climate change is projected to double or triple the number of extremely hot days capable of causing heat stroke and death over the next 30 years if emissions are not reduced.
• In Canada, air pollution is expected to rise due to droughts, wildfires, and pollen spikes, while insect-borne diseases like Lyme Disease have already affected over 2,000 people across several provinces.
• Climate change threatens food and water security through melting permafrost, floods, droughts, and changing ecosystems, while also increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events like ice storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that climate emissions must be reduced by 45% by 2030 to avoid catastrophic climate change.
• Global impacts of climate change include the spread of malaria and dengue fever, lethal heat waves, and significant economic damage, with 712 extreme weather events in a single year causing US$326 billion in losses.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2019). Take Action on Climate Change to Protect Human Health. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/National-Factsheet-Sept.-2019.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Take Action on Climate Change to Protect Human Health. 2019. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/National-Factsheet-Sept.-2019.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Take Action on Climate Change to Protect Human Health |date=September 2019 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/National-Factsheet-Sept.-2019.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2019take, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Take Action on Climate Change to Protect Human Health}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2019}, month = sep, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/National-Factsheet-Sept.-2019.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }