Comments on the Milestone Document, Canada’s 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy

CAPE argues that biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution form an interconnected crisis that directly harms human health. They recommend a 'planetary health' approach to Canada's 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy, emphasizing the protection of green and blue spaces, the reduction of hazardous chemical pollution, and the recognition of the human right to a healthy environment. The document highlights the mental health benefits of nature exposure and the risks of zoonotic diseases resulting from habitat destruction. CAPE specifically calls for the phase-out of hazardous pesticides, the end of fossil fuel subsidies, and the centering of Indigenous knowledge and self-determination in conservation efforts.

• CAPE advocates for a 'planetary health' approach, asserting that human well-being is fundamentally dependent on the health of the earth and that biodiversity is a 'pillar of human health'.
• Biodiversity loss increases the risk of future pandemics and infectious disease outbreaks by increasing wildlife-human contact as animals shift their geographical reach due to habitat destruction.
• Access to green spaces provides significant mental health benefits, including reduced stress (lower cortisol levels), decreased anxiety, and improved cognitive development in children; conversely, urbanization and lack of nature access contribute to rising rates of mental illness in Canada.
• Environmental pollution, specifically microplastics and air pollution, is linked to severe health issues: microplastics can disrupt hormone regulation and affect sleep, while traffic-derived air pollution is associated with dementia and psychotic disorders.
• CAPE recommends specific policy actions for the 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy, including ending fossil fuel subsidies and expansion, implementing the precautionary principle, and recognizing the human right to a healthy environment.
• The document emphasizes the need to decolonize public health and ensure full collaboration with Indigenous peoples, noting that environmental changes could decrease essential nutrient intake for First Nations Peoples by 30 percent by 2050.
• Over-reliance on pesticides contributes to biodiversity loss and human health issues such as cancer and neurological conditions, with acute pesticide poisoning among workers costing an estimated CAD$1.8 million.
• Nature-based solutions and the protection of ecosystems provide critical climate adaptation benefits; for example, lack of proximity to green space was identified as an independent risk factor for death during the 2021 heat dome in British Columbia.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2024). Comments on the Milestone Document, Canada’s 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CAPE-Comments-on-the-Milestone-Document-Canadas-2030-National-Biodiversity-Strategy-Febraury-2024.pdf#new_tab

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Comments on the Milestone Document, Canada’s 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy. 2024. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CAPE-Comments-on-the-Milestone-Document-Canadas-2030-National-Biodiversity-Strategy-Febraury-2024.pdf#new_tab.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Comments on the Milestone Document, Canada’s 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy |date=9 February 2024 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CAPE-Comments-on-the-Milestone-Document-Canadas-2030-National-Biodiversity-Strategy-Febraury-2024.pdf#new_tab |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2024comments, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Comments on the Milestone Document, Canada’s 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2024}, month = feb, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CAPE-Comments-on-the-Milestone-Document-Canadas-2030-National-Biodiversity-Strategy-Febraury-2024.pdf#new_tab}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }