Health Authority Perceptions & Capacity for Action: Health Impacts of Climate Change in BC
In 2013, BC Healthy Communities Society and other partners undertook research to gauge how BC health authorities perceive and integrate the health effects of climate change in their work. Specifically, they explored how health authorities perceive the health effects of climate change in BC and across different health authority regions, respond to climate change in their work, and build capacity and collaborate with other partners to address climate change within the health sector.
The research revealed that the majority of participants believe that climate change has already had an effect on the health of BC’s population and its communities, and that it will continue to impact human health issues in the province over time. While most indicated they are aware of and are seeing direct health impacts of climate change in their region, they do not believe that addressing or responding to these impacts is
currently a priority for their department within the health authority.