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Nursing’s Role in Climate Change
Why is climate change an issue for nurses?
• It is going to affect the health of the people we
work with.
• It is a social justice issue because the negative
effects of climate change are felt most acutely by
those who contribute to it the least.
• We have the skills to make an impact in
supporting people as they adapt to their
changing climate.
• We are well placed to support efforts to reduce
GHG emissions.
Overview
• The objectives of this class are to:
– provide an overview of the science of climate change
– identify links between climate change and health
– define adaptation to and mitigation of climate change
– explore nursing’s role in supporting adaptation and
mitigation activities
– begin to identify potential policy responses
Science of Climate Change
Climate change
Climate change is not just an environmental
issue, as too many people still believe.
It is an all-encompassing threat.
Kofi Annan, 2006
© World Health Organization
© Environment Canada: www.msc.ec.gc.ca/education/scienceofclimatechange
/understanding/greenhouse_gases/index_e.html
Changes in temperature, sea
level and snow cover in the
Northern Hemisphere since
1850 (reprinted from
Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change, 2007; used
with permission).
© Environment Canada: http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/ccrm/bulletin/national_e.cfm
© Environment Canada: http://www.msc.ec.gc.ca/ccrm/bulletin/figchartt_e.html?season=Winter&date=2008
Identify the Links between Health and the
Environment
Impact of climate change on health
• In Canada:
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temperature extremes – heat waves
extreme weather events and natural disasters
outdoor air quality worsens
increase in food and water-borne infections
increase in vector-borne and zoonotic diseases
stratospheric ozone depletion
social and economic impacts on community health
and well-being
Health Canada, 2005
© Her Majesty the
Queen in Right of
Canada, represented
by the Minister of
Health (2005)
© World Health Organization
Deaths attributed to climate change NOW
154,000 per year
Patz et al., 2005
15
Some regions are likely to be especially affected by
climate change.
- The Arctic, because of the impacts of high rates of
projected warming on natural systems and human
communities,
- Africa, because of low adaptive capacity and projected
climate change impacts,
- Small islands, where there is high exposure of population
and infrastructure to projected climate change impacts,
- Asian and African megadeltas, due to large populations
and high exposure to sea level rise, storm surges, and
river flooding.
From the Nobel Lecture given by Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC). December 10, 2007, Oslo.
Climate change and social justice
© Greenpeace
Define Adaptation to and Mitigation of Climate
Change
Adaptation to climate change
• Depends on:
– Population density, level of economic development, food
availability, income level and distribution, local
environmental conditions, pre-existing health status, and
the quality/availability of public health care
• “No regrets” responses address these issues
without making climate change the determining
factor in decision-making
• Planning for emergencies and heat waves
© Her Majesty the Queen in
Right of Canada, represented
by the Minister of Health
(2005)
Mitigation of climate change
• International agreements
– Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
– Kyoto Protocol
• Turning the Corner
– Imposes mandatory targets on industry to reduce production of
GHGs in half by 2015
– Regulates fuel efficiency of cars and light-duty trucks beginning
2011
– Strengthens energy efficiency of products
– Different from Kyoto in that base year is 2006, not 1990
Canada’s GHG Emissions 1990-2005
Environment Canada, 2006
© Transport Canada: www.tc.gc.ca/road/vehiclesafety.htm
© Environment Canada: www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroZine/english/issues/47/feature1_e.cfm
Nursing’s Role in Adaptation to and Mitigation
of Climate Change
Examples of nursing roles
• Adaptation
– Emergency planning/preparedness
• Involvement of nurses at all levels of government planning
– Warning systems for heat waves
• Through public health department with nursing support
– Protective technologies
• Sunscreen, air conditioning, urban planning, re-engineer
water systems
– Behaviour changes
• Caution in hot weather, consider the Air Quality Index (AQI) in
outdoor activities, be aware of changes in patterns of disease
Examples of nursing roles cont’d
• Mitigation
– Energy-efficient homes, appliances and automobiles
• List provided by World Wildlife Fund
– Walking, cycling, transit to work
• Improves cardiovascular health and reduces stress as well
as GHGs
– Urban planning to decrease commutes
• Improves air quality and allows walking around community
– Less travel for business
• Invest in video-conference facilities
– Eating local foods etc.
Some policy debates
• Absolute cap on emissions versus reducing their
intensity
• Carbon taxes to increase the costs of energy
(and support reduced use)
• Leadership by developed world versus BAU
(Business As Usual) until developing world signs
on to targets
World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Activities to reduce GHG
emissions
At home:
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Switch to renewable energy.
Eat local. Buy local.
Adjust your thermostat.
Buy energy-efficient appliances.
Beyond your front door:
• Drive less.
• Don’t idle.
At the office or at school:
• Not using it? Turn it off.
• Encourage others.
For more tips, check the WWF website:
http://www.wwf.ca/AboutWWF/WhatWeDo/ConservationPrograms/Global
Warming/takeaction.asp
Conclusions
• Climate change has an impact on health,
particularly in the developing world.
• Nurses have a role in helping people adapt to
their changing climate and reduce their GHG
emissions.
• What is needed is to increase our awareness
and identify where we can make an impact.
Courage my friends; ‘tis not too late to build a better world.
Tommy Douglas
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Health (2005)
Photos: Comstock; Corbis; Getty Images
© Canadian Nurses Association, 2008