Community Resources
We collect, update, and share resources on COPE, focusing on climate change, extreme heat, and older adults. Our collection includes evidence-based strategies, podcasts, practical guides, and research insights to enhance awareness, preparedness, and resilience. Whether you need expert recommendations, community initiatives, or policy discussions, our curated materials provide valuable information on coping with extreme heat.
Podcasts
Resilience: The Global Adaptation Podcast: "How to Tackle Extreme Heat"
Speaking of Psychology: "Mental health in a warming world with Kim Meidenbauer, PhD and鈥疉mruta Nori-Sarma, PhD"鈥��
Life Kit by NPR: "Staying Safe in Extreme Heat"鈥�
Web Articles
Almost no one has 鈥渉eat鈥� or 鈥渃old鈥� written on their death certificate, but sub-optimal temperatures lead to a large number of premature deaths. As we鈥檒l see later, researchers estimate that it kills several million every year.
The natural environment is changing, and people are worried about what it means for the future. This worry, increasingly becoming severe enough to cause distress and dysfunction, is called eco anxiety.
'Prepare Together for Extreme Heat' guide is ideally for use by groups of neighbours in multi-unit housing or in the same block; however, any group wanting to consider ways to protect themselves during extreme heat events can use it.
The issue of climate change can often be politicized, and although we can challenge and reframe our anxious thoughts around environmental issues, eco-anxiety centres on valid concerns about the planet.
Journal Articles
This study reviews research on factors influencing heat-adaptive behaviours (HABs) in response to global warming. Findings show perceived efficacy, heat-related knowledge, perceived threat, and gender are key drivers of HABs, with notable differences between high- and middle-income countries.
This study tested the Climate Shift Index鈥檚 (CSI) impact on public understanding of climate change and extreme weather. Results showed greater belief that climate change contributed to the July 2023 U.S. heat wave and heat waves in general. Percentage-based framing was most effective.
This article revisits the concept of climate gerontology鈥攖he intersection of aging and climate change鈥攆irst proposed by Haq and Gutman in 2014. It highlights the often-overlooked potential of older adults in climate action and calls for greater recognition of their role in addressing climate challenges.
Eco-anxiety is systematic reviewed with its varied definitions, links to mental health issues like stress and depression, especially among youth, women, and climate-concerned groups. The findings should be interpreted with caution since the methodological quality of the studies was limited.
The paper reviews how aging affects temperature regulation, circulation, and hydration, increasing vulnerability during heatwaves. It also explores how chronic age-related conditions can worsen these impairments. Finally, it highlights the role of physiological research in shaping climate-health programs to protect heat-vulnerable populations.
Habit-forming strategies are outlined to encourage healthy behavior and habit-breaking methods to disrupt harmful patterns. This two-pronged approach is most effective for achieving long-term benefits. Examples highlighted intervention components for lasting public health improvements.
This paper reviews recent scientific advances in understanding heatwaves, including how they are measured, their causes, trends, and human influence. The authors call for a unified global approach to improve heatwave monitoring, analysis, and attribution.
Multimedia Climate Shift Index Map
The Climate Shift Index map provides a visual representation of temperature anomalies worldwide for specific dates, highlighting the variation in global temperatures. It also estimates the likelihood that these temperature changes are attributed to climate change, offering a clearer understanding of how shifting climate patterns are affecting different regions.
DIY air cleaners鈥� workshop by 大象传媒 researchers
大象传媒 professor Anne-Marie Nicol and her team have been leading a series of workshops in wildfire adjacent communities, teaching people how to build their own DIY air filters, in partnership with BC Lung Foundation.
Resource Booklet: Smart & Sustainable Ways to Cope with Extreme Heat and Climate Challenges
This booklet is designed to offer the best knowledge we have to date on coping with heat, including practical solutions and insights.
Our team has compiled existing knowledge on aging & climate change, including easy-to-follow tips, cooling strategies, and recommendations for how to protect yourself during heat waves. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge needed to build resilience and thrive on days that are too hot.