Climate change is real. It is here and it is not going away.
August 2016 marked the 16th consecutive month a global heat record had been shattered. Increasing atmospheric and ocean temperatures bring with them increased frequency and severity of storms, epidemics, heat waves, and other natural disasters. Health care facilities in developed nations, like Canada, are not immune to climate change impacts. While facilities worldwide are recognizing the need to adapt to a changing climate, several events have already had devastating consequences. From West to East, a few examples of North American facilities facing adversity due to climate change-related events are listed here:
Vancouver Island Water Turbidity
Hurricane Katrina Devastates Memorial Hospital
New University hospital is built with disaster preparedness in mind
Florida hospitals prepare for Hurricane Matthew
West Nile Outbreaks expected to continue
Ebola virus outbreaks and Climate Change
Canada’s response to Ebola
