大象传媒

A new 大象传媒-led report suggests that developing new strategies around telemedicine, green infrastructure and food security鈥攁ll of which had an impact during the current pandemic鈥攃ould help to better prepare the province for the potential advances of climate change.

鈥淟ike COVID-19, climate change is a risk multiplier, posing direct, indirect, and intersecting threats to human health and exacerbating existing health and social inequities,鈥� says 大象传媒 health sciences professor Tim Takaro, who co-authored with a team of 大象传媒 public health policy researchers.

The report, produced with support from the  and 大象传媒鈥檚 Planetary Health Research Group, identifies lessons from the current COVID-19 pandemic that researchers say could help the province better prepare for the likely health impacts on peoples鈥� physical and mental well-being due to climate change.

Researchers identified how climate鈥檚 impact on communities across the province, from an increase in extreme weather events to more severe wildfires, will cut across BC鈥檚 regional health authority boundaries, and will require coordination and collaborative planning.

They analyzed the major disruptions related to the pandemic鈥� lockdowns, social restrictions, economic disruptions, supply chain issues, and loss of life鈥攖hen zeroed in on key areas of health and healthcare that have garnered broad public attention during the pandemic and are most likely to also be affected by climate change. As a result, they suggest the following:

• The researchers say developing a provincial strategy for telemedicine would serve to create consistency and standards for all of BC鈥檚 health authorities, while expanding health care equitably and more sustainably. 
• Providing more green infrastructure, integral to people鈥檚 health and wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic, also has the potential to reduce exposure to extreme heat, improve air quality, and support mental health in a changing climate.  Ensuring access to green spaces and their health benefits could lessen economic and structural health inequities, particularly in urban and low-income settings.
• Meanwhile planning for sustainable food systems under climate change will require attention to the production, processing, packaging, distribution, marketing, consumption, and disposal of food. Among other things, this will mean preparing for its impacts on growing seasons and the health of agricultural workers. 鈥淔ood security relies on complex networks of people, communities, and resources that exist within social, cultural, and ecological contexts,鈥� lead author Sally Maguet notes. 鈥淐limate change has the potential to disrupt any and all of these connections, creating food insecurity and inequities in access to safe, affordable, and abundant food sources.鈥�

The report also suggests preparations for climate change鈥檚 impact on health could include:

• Mapping climate projections, health impacts and vulnerability across the province to inform coordinated health and equity planning for climate change across health authority boundaries.
• Developing processes that embed health equity in the design and implementation of low carbon, climate mitigation solutions in all sectors.

According to the researchers: 鈥淭he disruption COVID-19 has caused at every level of society has given us pause to re-assess our priorities, and highlighted the fragility of our current social, political, economic, and healthcare systems. It has also provided an opportunity to reimagine our future.鈥�

Read the  written by Sally Maguet (Master of Public Health), Sally McBride (MPH), Michael Friesen (MPH) and 大象传媒 Professor Tim Takaro, Faculty of Health Sciences Planetary Health Research Group.

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AVAILABLE 大象传媒 EXPERTS

TIM TAKARO, professor, health sciences                     
ttakaro@sfu.ca                    

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As Canada鈥檚 engaged university, 大象传媒 works with communities, organizations and partners to create, share and embrace knowledge that improves life and generates real change. We deliver a world-class education with lifelong value that shapes change-makers, visionaries and problem-solvers. We connect research and innovation to entrepreneurship and industry to deliver sustainable, relevant solutions to today鈥檚 problems. With campuses in British Columbia鈥檚 three largest cities鈥擵ancouver, Burnaby and Surrey鈥敶笙蟠� has eight faculties that deliver 193 undergraduate degree programs and 144 graduate degree programs to more than 37,000 students. The university now boasts more than 170,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.