Statement

Today is World Health Day, and in line with this year’s theme “Our planet, our health”, we encourage everyone to reflect on the drivers of the climate crisis and their impact on our health.

April 7, 2022 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada

Today is World Health Day, and in line with this year’s theme “Our planet, our health”, we encourage everyone to reflect on the drivers of the climate crisis and their impact on our health.

Climate change is the biggest health threat facing humanity.

Extreme weather events such as heat waves, wildfires, and floods are increasing in frequency and intensity across the country. These events not only affect our physical health, but our mental health as well. The impacts of climate change on mental health are far ranging – from post-traumatic stresses due to climate-related events themselves, to a worsening of pre-existing mental illnesses, increased anxiety, grief, worry, anger, hopelessness, and fear in the face of environmental changes. In Canada, one in five individuals experience mental health issues every year and in years to come, this number is expected to rise because of climate change and will result in increasing the burden of mental illness in Canada.

Climate change is also affecting social determinants of health, resulting in poorer health outcomes for many individuals across Canada, especially those experiencing vulnerability, including low-income families, seniors, women, children, Indigenous and racialized communities, and those with underlying health conditions.

Health Canada is working with partners in all jurisdictions to find the best way forward for our health systems as we continue to adapt, including by working towards the development of Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy. The recently released report by Health Canada, the Health of Canadians in a Changing Climate: Advancing our Knowledge for Action, provides the latest research on the effects of climate change to the health of Canadians and the health systems they rely on. This scientific assessment addresses the evolving knowledge needs of decision-makers and individual Canadians to help understand how Canada’s climate is changing and the effects it is having, including implications for those most at risk in society.

While assessing the impact of climate change on health systems is important, our government is also focused on finding concrete ways to improve Canada’s health systems, to preserve the universal, accessible and quality care that Canadians deserve. Last month, we outlined our government’s vision of the future of healthcare, focusing on these five areas of priority:

• Reduce backlogs and support our health care workers;
• Enhance access to family doctors and family services;
• Improve mental health and substance-use services;
• Help Canadians age with dignity, closer to home; and
• Use health data and digital health more effectively.

By focusing on these areas, we will ensure that our healthcare system will be better able to keep everyone healthy, especially those disproportionately affected by the climate crisis.

As we recognize World Health Day 2022, let us commit to taking individual and collective actions to protect the health and well-being of our planet and all of its inhabitants. Together, we can achieve better health for future generations, and create a Canada that is healthier and more resilient to climate change.

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P.

Contacts

Marie-France Proulx

Press Secretary

Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos

Minister of Health

613-957-0200

Maja Staka

Press Secretary

Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health

343-552-5568

Media Relations

Health Canada

613-957-2983
media@hc-sc.gc.ca