WHY ADAPT? A Critical Analysis of Climate Change Adaptation Options for Public Health in Canada Mark...

WHY ADAPT?WHY ADAPT?

A Critical Analysis of Climate A Critical Analysis of Climate Change Adaptation Options for Change Adaptation Options for Public Health in CanadaPublic Health in Canada

Mark Pajot, Masters in Mark Pajot, Masters in Environmental Studies at Environmental Studies at York U.York U.

CPHA Conference, Halifax. Monday, June 2, 2008

Why Adapt? A Critical Analysis of Climate Change Adaptation Options For Public Health in Canada.

CPHA Conference, Halifax. Monday, June 2, 2008 2

“It is precisely in periods of crisis that the relationship between the parts and the whole appears most clearly.”

Antonio Gramsci, 1954



Agenda

• WHY ADAPT?– Brief snapshot of the climate crisis.

• HOW DO WE ADAPT?– Climate change adaptation defined– Examining the current bias towards the

risk management model of adaptation– Expanding the role of adaptation to

reduce vulnerabilities not just respond to impacts.




Snapshot of the Climate Crisis

Arguably the biggest threat to public health in Canada this century

Health impacts cause or are caused by:


“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal.”(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007a)

• Direct effects¹:–Extreme heat / cold; –Extreme weather (natural hazards/emergencies); –Increased flooding; –Reduced air quality

• Indirect effects¹–West nile virus; –Lyme disease; –Food contamination; –Drinking / Beach water contamination –Ultraviolet radiation. –Asthma / Allergies–Increased rates of poverty / food security²–Mental Health³

• Catastrophic impacts 4–Rapid sea level rise–Ocean fisheries collapse–Rapid methane release

¹ NRCan (2007) Canadian National Assessment.

² Stern,(2006); Homer-Dixon (2007)

³ Health Canada (2005)

4 UNEP (2007) “In Dead Water”. IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, (2007)




Source :http://www.stopglobalwarming.com.au/images/future_forecasts/global_warming_carbon_dioxide_concentration.jpg





New data (post IPCC, 2007) lowers

the dangerous threshold here (Hansen, 2007)



Snapshot of the Climate CrisisVulnerable populations are most effected:

• 2003 heat wave in Europe, seniors hardest hit.

• Air quality impacts on the poor and racial minorities.

. Why the injustice?

• Solutions (like mitigation efforts) must be compatible with economic growth.

- Article 2 of the UNFCCC notes that stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere should be achieved in a way that should “enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.



WHY ADAPT?

• Because at this point mitigation efforts to reduce carbon causing global warming are failing

• We are witnessing devastating impacts now, especially on vulnerable populations.

• So we have no other choice



HOW DO WE ADAPT?

“Adaptation will be necessary to address impacts resulting from warming which is already unavoidable due to past emissions” (IPCC, 2007a)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(2007) defines adaptation as “a process through which societies make themselves better able to cope with an uncertain future.”

The IPCC propose three types of adaptation 1. anticipatory, 2. autonomous and, 3. planned

Much focus is on planned adaptation (Pittock and Jones, 2000, Burton, 2006)

“Adaptation that is the result of a deliberate policy decision, based on an

awareness that conditions have changed or are about to change andthat action is required to return to, maintain, or achieve a desired

state.”



HOW DO WE ADAPT?

“A surge in interest in impact-oriented action has been observed since the beginning of the century, in contrast to efforts centred on prevention”

(Burton, 2002)

• Focuses on responding to the impacts of climate change and over emphasizes the management of observed risks.

Example Include:

• Air Quality Health Index, • Heat Health Alert Systems, • Sun Safety initiatives, • Physical infrastructure renewal

* Rather than sufficiently addressing the underlying factors that cause vulnerability to it.



HOW DO WE ADAPT?

BUILD RESILIENCY

REDISTRIBUTE WEALTH

SUPPORT LOCALLY

GROWN COMMUNITY

FOOD INITIATIVES

PROMOTE POLITICAL

ENGAGEMENT

REDUCE BARRIERS TO EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, and SOCIAL SUPPORT

ELIMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

HOUSING FOR

EVERYBODY

Source: http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/images/ipph_pyramid_phf_e.jpg

ACCEPT COMMUNITY VOICE IN

PLANNING

Reify The Spiritual, and Artistic



QUESTIONS?

Contact Information

Mark PajotYork University

[email protected]

Peel Public Health

905-791-7800 ext. 2427

[email protected]

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