Climate Change

Climate change is not simply an environmental problem – it poses a serious public health challenge ~ MOHLTC

Climate change is influencing community wellbeing, creating greater risks to both physical and mental health. Communities can take action to respond to health risks and to protect those most affected. Find more resources describing climate change impacts and how communities can take action to adapt through Natural Resources Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

How will Climate Change Impact our Health in Grey and Bruce Counties?

Climate change in our region is expected to result in more frequent and intense precipitation, more frequent and severe storms and an increase in the annual temperature. Flooding, severe, and prolonged winter storms, and widespread power outages are possible. Visit Get Prepared to learn how to prepare for severe storms.

The changing climate could also mean a greater risk for: Lyme disease and West Nile virus, water-borne illnesses, heat related illnesses and deaths and the possibility of displacement and isolation. Vulnerable populations (elderly, children, disadvantaged, and chronically ill) will be impacted to a greater degree others by climate change.

Click here to find out more about your health and climate change

Additional Resources

Grey Bruce State of the Environment Report - An Ecohealth perspective was applied to a State of the Environment report for Grey Bruce Health Unit and summarized environmental and health data relevant for public health practice.
Climate Change in GBHU - Report (2017)
Food Is My Medicine - Climate Change FN - A look at how climate change may affect traditional food use and ultimately impact the health of First Nations and Metis people in Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory.
2015 Grey Bruce Air Quality Study - This study confirms air quality at the Tiverton air monitoring station reflects the larger picture of air quality across Grey Bruce.
Augmented Air Sampling - Dundalk, Ontario Summer 2016 - During the summer of 2016, ambient air sampling for formaldehyde was conducted in the town of Dundalk as a joint project of the Grey Bruce Health Unit (GBHU) and the local Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) office, with technical support from Public Health Ontario (PHO).

What can be done?

The good news is that simply by taking steps to make our natural and built environment healthier we are already on the way to mitigating and preparing for climate change! Reducing our energy consumption, using active transportation and clean energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions and decreases air pollution. Reducing food waste and choosing to eat more plant-based foods also reduces greenhouse gases, is budget friendly and nutritious. Reducing waste reduces impacts to the environment and the energy used to process, transport and landfill waste. Promoting policy changes to consider health and environment can support an increase in active living, reduce storm water runoff, reduce flooding, and reduce urban heat island effects along with many other positive impacts. All of these examples may be small in scale on their own but taken together can have an impact and even help you be healthier.

Responding to climate change requires more than individual actions. Learn more about how United Nations, Canada, Ontario, and Grey County are responding. Some lower tier municipalities in Grey Bruce have developed Climate Action or Adaptation Plans, including Northern Bruce Peninsula, Owen Sound, and Huron-Kinloss. Other municipalities may include climate focused action in their Official Plans. Connect with your local municipality to learn more about the action being taken by your community.

Protect the drinking water in my private well

More frequent and intense rainfall events can contaminate our drinking water from agricultural and residential runoff. There is a direct link between heavy rainfall events and an increase in water contamination and outbreaks of gastrointestinal water-borne illnesses. Drinking, brushing your teeth, washing vegetables, and using contaminated water can make you sick with stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting or cause illnesses which could fatal. Heavy rainfall in May 2000, was a key factor in the Walkerton tragedy where 7 people died and thousands became ill from drinking contaminated well water.

View The Private Well Water Manual to learn how to keep your well water safe and visit the safe water page to learn how to test for bacteria in your water.

Safety at Public Beaches

Recreational water at our beaches can become unsafe for swimming during and for 24-48 hours after storms producing strong winds and heavy rain. This could mean an increased risk of getting sick from swallowing contaminated water while swimming. Beaches in Grey and Bruce County have a history of being safe. But, we know that the water quality can change from day to day or even hour to hour depending on the weather and other conditions. Check out our Beach listings to find out when it is unsafe to swim.

Stay Safe During Storms

Extreme weather is expected to become more common with climate change. Severe storms such as those that cause blizzards, freezing rain, strong winds and tornadoes can bring harm or injury to people. Storms can also damage critical services and infrastructure like our roads, buildings and utilities and excessive rain can cause flooding. Extreme weather may also make it more difficult for emergency services to respond to an accident or emergency.

Visit Get Prepared to learn how to prepare for severe storms.

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