Dear CHNIG Member,
The Ontario Public Health Association is thrilled to be launching the Make It Better initiative to address the health impacts of climate change. Developed in partnership with leading health organizations including the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO), the initiative will give parents and health workers information and tools to protect our children and our communities – and we need your help!
We feel this initiative is of unique appeal to Ontarians with the aim of creating dialogue around the direct links of climate change to children’s health, as research reveals increasingly concerning evidence of this link:
- Longer, drier and warmer summers are increasing key triggers for asthma, which is one of the leading causes of hospital admissions for children in Canada.
- Between 2021 to 2050, the Toronto area could see over 30 extreme heat days annually, and over 50 extreme heat days by 20803 – and children are the most vulnerable.
- Extended, warmer seasons mean Lyme disease-carrying tick populations are growing, spreading, and active longer. Children between the ages of five and nine are particularly vulnerable to Lyme disease.
How you can get involved?
Below are specific actions you can take to get involved in this campaign and there are more available at makeitbetterontario.ca:
- Sign the pledge – Lend your name to the campaign and commit to taking action.
- Stay informed – Learn how children’s health is being impacted by climate change.
- Share what you know – Share information on the health risks of climate change with your networks and in your community. We’ve developed a social kit with resources for you to use.
- Protect your family – Apply specific tips for parents, caregivers and families about how to avoid these increasing risks.
- Act in your community – Discover ways to combat climate change and its health impacts in your community.
Addressing these emerging health impacts will require the action and support from people across Ontario. We hope we can count on your support to be a leader and help us protect our children and our communities – for today and for the future.
Sincerely,
Pegeen Walsh
Executive Director, Ontario Public Health Association