Healthy environments and climate change team
Good health depends on much more than health care. Our physical and social environments significantly affect our health and well-being. VCH Public Health works to prevent illness and promote health by addressing these factors — known as determinants of health — that impact the health of our communities.
Who we are
The Healthy Environments & Climate Change (HECC) Team works on topics related to our built and natural environments as well as climate change and its impacts on our health. The team is comprised of Medical Health Officers, climate change and health leads, environmental health scientists, community planners, Environmental Health Officers and others.
How we work to improve the health of our communities
The HECC team focuses its work on the physical and environmental determinants of health. These topics fall within the core public health functions of health promotion, healthy public policy, health protection, emergency preparedness and response, and disease and injury prevention. The types of health hazards addressed includes: physical (e.g. built environment), chemical (e.g. air quality), biological (e.g. drinking water contamination), and climate-related (e.g. wildfire smoke) hazards.
We work closely with municipal, provincial, and federal partners, as well as local not-for profit organizations and academia on a range of topics.
Equity is a critical lens that informs all of this work. We aim to reduce health inequities, and prioritize action to support individuals and populations experiencing inequitable determinants of health.
Where we are focussing our efforts
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Climate change adaptation
Preparing for and responding to current and future challenges and emergencies associated with our changing climate, including extreme heat, wildfire smoke, drought, and flooding.
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Climate change mitigation
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through improved community and transportation planning and design, transportation mode shifts, and related initiatives.
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Community planning
Building communities that support physical, mental, social health and well-being. Areas of work include neighborhood design, transportation networks, natural environments, food systems, and housing.
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Environmental exposures
Reducing population exposure to physical, chemical, biological, and other hazards such as wildfire smoke, traffic-related air pollution, drinking water contaminants, and ultraviolet radiation.
The HECC team works in a variety of ways including:
- Raising awareness about emerging environmental health and climate change issues to partners and the public
- Reviewing proposed plans and policies and provide feedback; participate in engagement processes
- Sharing public health data and analysis to support evidence-based policies
- Collaborating with local governments and other partners, including participating in advisory committees and contributing to new evidence
- Advising decision makers on topics that impact public health
- Addressing public health hazards and responding to community and population needs
Questions?
If you have a question for the team, please reach out to healthy.environments@vch.ca
