FOR THE PEOPLE. Canada’s climate adaptation projects are community-led | Photo Credit: Margarita-Young

Climate change poses a significant and growing risk to health, said Health Canada, adding that more frequent and severe extreme weather events are leading to injuries, loss of life, and negative impacts on mental health.

The country recently announced an investment of over $17 million through the Climate Change and Health Capacity Building programme to support 24 community-designed projects that advance knowledge, capacity and innovation in adapting Canada’s health sector to climate change. The programme includes climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems (HealthADAPT); and protecting Canadians from extreme heat (HeatADAPT).

Many regions across Canada experience extreme heat events, often referred to as heat waves. Through HeatADAPT, over $13 million has been allocated, including to the University of British Columbia and BC’s Provincial Heath Services Authority. UBC is examining the complex health risks faced by individuals with schizophrenia during extreme heat events and chronic heat exposure. This will help develop critical insights into the roles housing security, indoor environmental quality and social inequities play in vulnerability to heat and other climate change events. BC’s Provincial Health Services Authority’s work will help strengthen partnerships, research and data expertise to better understand and respond to extreme heat impacts, including heat-related illness and mortality.

The Canadian government has invested more than $6.6 billion in climate change adaptation since 2015. This includes $2.1 billion in commitments since fall 2022 to implement the National Adaptation Strategy and support other adaptation-related activities.

As part of HealthADAPT, nearly $4 million has been allocated to organisations across Canada to support efforts to build climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems.

(Source: Health Canada)

Published on June 29, 2026