Scoping the public health response to drought

Abstract

Climate-driven changes in annual maximum temperatures, precipitation patterns, snow accumulation, and glacier loss have elevated the risk of drought across Canada. Although drought discussions typically focus on easily identifiable impacts, such as water shortages, crop losses, and food availability, the public health impacts are far more wide-ranging. This webinar will share some of the work underway at Island Health to both understand the broad scope of drought impacts on public health and the ways in which public health practice could expand or adapt to meet the needs of future populations.

Speakers

Dr. Angela Eykelbosh is an Environmental Health Scientist with the Healthy Environments team at Island Health, previously working at the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health. She holds a PhD in Resource Management and Environmental Studies. Her areas of interest include land-water-climate interactions, the environmental health implications of climate change, and environmental public health emergency preparedness and response.

Nancy Clements is a Healthy Built Environment Consultant with the Healthy Environments team at Island Health. Nancy brings 20+ years of experience working in environmental public health on north Vancouver Island, focusing on drinking water and land use development. She strives to support local governments to include health in local planning / policies and promotes dialogue on how to make our communities more resilient to climate change. Her work is strongly focused on the impacts of drought and strategies for adaptation and resilience building.