Health Canada has invested over $17 million through the Climate Change and Health Capacity Building program to support climate action in Canada's health sector.
The program includes two streams:
- climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems (HealthADAPT)
- protecting Canadians from extreme heat (HeatADAPT)
Below are the descriptions of the projects that have received funding through this program.
HealthADAPT
Alberta
University of Alberta ($749,999)
Developing and implementing evidence-based guidance, training, and education programs to build a climate-ready health workforce.
Manitoba
Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care ($433,958)
Conducting research and assessments on climate change and health vulnerability to better adapt and respond to the impacts of climate change on human health.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Health Authority ($746,407)
Conducting a climate change and health vulnerability assessment to better understand the health impacts to Nova Scotia's Central Zone population and improve climate resilience and health outcomes.
Ontario
City of Ottawa ($632,400)
Implementing priority recommendations by accelerating early targeted actions identified in the city's vulnerability assessment, such as equity-focused communication and cooling options.
Quebec
The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre ($590,928)
Enhancing climate resilience in kidney care systems by developing comprehensive guidelines on mitigating climate-related disruptions to critical kidney care services, training modules for healthcare providers and caregivers and educational materials for patients.
Yukon
Department of Health and Social Services ($582,888)
Identifying climate hazards and assessing vulnerabilities within Yukon's health system to help address climate-related health risks and strengthen Yukon's resilience to climate impacts.
HeatADAPT
British Columbia
Provincial Health Services Authority ($996,000)
Strengthening partnerships, research and data expertise to better understand and respond to extreme heat impacts, including heat-related illness and mortality.
University of British Columbia ($100,000)
Research on health risks of extreme heat for individuals with schizophrenia and housing insecurity.
Manitoba
Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care ($997,383)
Using data to identify, analyse, and prioritize areas and populations most at risk to health impacts from extreme heat.
New Brunswick
Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health ($999,860)
Building a public health system model to help better adapt to extreme heat and develop a
heat response platform with partners.
Réseau de santé Vitalité ($733,327)
Providing information on effective adaptation measures to help reduce the risks of climate change and extreme heat on health and the health system.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Department of Health and Community Services ($465,280)
Developing a Heat Alert and Response System for Newfoundland and Labrador to be better prepared for extreme heat events.
Nova Scotia
Department of Health and Wellness ($516,227)
Improving Nova Scotia's ability to respond to extreme heat and protect health by developing a heat vulnerability index and surveillance system to identify high-risk areas for targeted adaptation interventions.
Ontario
University of Ottawa ($2,500,000)
Producing new data on the physiological and psychophysiological impacts of indoor overheating on older Canadians to help develop evidence-based, culturally sensitive heat protection standards and guidelines.
Institut du Savoir Montfort ($996,065)
Delivering digital messages to patients receiving primary health care services so they better understand the risks associated with extreme heat and can take action to protect their health.
Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care ($706,210)
Developing products, such as toolkits and policy guides, to support healthcare workers, facilities and communities to prepare for and reduce the impacts of extreme indoor heat in settings like hospitals, long-term care facilities and residential care homes.
The Regional Municipality of York ($758,009)
Enhancing understanding of the health impacts of extreme heat among seniors and creating adaptation measures to increase their resiliency.
Oxford Elgin St. Thomas Health Unit ($614,596)
Developing a localized Heat Resilience Strategy, incorporating more green infrastructure solutions to create more accessible cooling spaces and improve public health response frameworks.
Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion ($636,959)
Assessing public health risks of heat, guided by Ontario-specific indoor temperature data, to help reduce health impacts of extreme indoor heat.
Prince Edward Island
Department of Health and Wellness ($236,816)
Developing a Heat Alert and Response System for Prince Edward Island to increase awareness of the health impacts of extreme heat, at-risk populations, and offer mitigation measures that can minimize heat-related illnesses and comorbidities.
Quebec
Centre de recherche de l'Institut de cardiologie de Montréal ($719,000)
Equipping the Office Municipal d'Habitation de Montréal and tenants committees with knowledge to implement heat mitigation strategies and adapt heat action plans.
Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de Chaudière-Appalaches ($711,971)
Implementing more effective interventions to enhance the population's adaptation to heat, including an online toolbox with information and recommendations, tailored to the needs of different population groups.
Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale ($354,500)
Strengthening the capacity to cope with extreme heat episodes and reduce exposure to indoor heat for priority populations.
Institut national de santé publique du Québec ($225,785)
Updating Quebec's heat warning thresholds and providing stakeholder engagement sessions with local health departments, meteorological services, and community organizations.
