Event summary produced by The Globe and Mail Events team. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.
Climate change is widely considered to be the biggest threat to our health, from heat stress to poor air quality to eco-anxiety.
Physicians and care providers are treating a growing array of conditions caused or exacerbated by a changing climate. At the same time, the health care sector is working to do its part to reduce emissions.
On October 6, The Globe and Mail hosted an event for health care providers, community and sustainability leaders to share actions for healthier people and a healthier planet.
Missed the event or would like to view it again? Scroll down to the video player (English and French) below.
Elder Whabagoon, Ojibwe Elder, Lac Seul First Nation began the event with an Opening Ceremony. Host André Picard, health reporter and columnist with The Globe and Mail then opened the program, together with Dr. Margot Burnell, president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).
To help set the stage for the afternoon’s discussions, Kim Perrotta, executive director of the Canadian Health Association for Sustainability and Equity (CHASE) gave a presentation covering the impacts of a changing climate on health; along with resources and solutions to address the issues.
The presentation and interview was followed by a panel of physicians and advocates sharing their own observations and experiences related to patient and community health in the era of climate change. The panel included:
- Dr. Ojistoh Kahnawahere Horn, medical director of health with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
- Dr. Julia Sawatzky, emergency medicine resident physician with the University of Alberta; and co-chair of CAPE (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment) Alberta.
- Cecilia La Rose, youth climate advocate
The event also explored how physicians and health system experts can better prepare for climate-related risks, illnesses and emergencies, via an interview with:
- Dr. Prativa Baral, assistant professor with the Department of Global and Public Health at McGill University
- Dr. Samantha Green, family physician with St. Michael’s Hospital, Inner City Health Associates; and assistant professor at the University of Toronto
As health care providers strive to learn, prepare and adapt to new and increasing risks related to climate change, they are also working to be part of the solution through efforts to decarbonize the sector. A panel of physicians and sustainability experts covered practical ways to reduce emissions in hospitals and clinics. The panel included:
- Dr. Courtney Howard, emergency physician, Yellowknife
- Dr. Owen Dan Luo, internal medicine resident physician at McGill University
- William Gagnon, sustainable health systems expert
To conclude the program, Jean-Patrick Toussaint, senior climate program director at the Trottier Family Foundation summarized the discussions and commented on the role of philanthropy in addressing climate change. Elder Whabagoon then conducted a Closing Ceremony.
View the event in English:
View the event in French:
Resources (shared by Kim Perrotta):
Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals
Fractures in the Bridge: Unconventional (Fracked) Natural Gas, Climate Change and Human Health
Health of Canadians in a Changing Climate
The Globe and Mail presented the event with support from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the Trottier Family Foundation.
To learn about upcoming Globe and Mail events please visit www.globeandmail.com/events