Introduction to Climate and Health

Today, there is broad scientific and political agreement that the planet is warming due to heat-trapping emissions from human activities, like burning fossil fuels for energy. Climate change is already having serious impacts on both ecosystems and human health and wellbeing in communities around the world.

These are some of the general impacts that can be expected from climate change in Waterloo Region:

  • Extreme weather events will be more frequent and severe.
  • The number of extreme hot days will increase.
  • Total precipitation is expected to increase.
  • Winters will be warmer but there will be more freezing rain events.


Resources for more information include:

  • The Waterloo Region Climate Projections Report (2015)
  • The Community Climate Adaptation Plan for Waterloo Region (2019)
  • Ontario Provincial Climate Change Impact Assessment – Summary Report (2023)
  • Ontario Provincial Climate Change Impact Assessment – Adaptation Best Practices Summary Report (2023)
  • Recommendations to improve the climate resilience of homes, communities and public infrastructure in Ontario (2021)

Dry day during summer heatwave, U.K. Photo credit: Alisdare Hickson.

Climate Change and Human Health

Climate change is already having an impact on different aspects of human health. Health impacts include: increase in extreme heat, increased air pollution with respiratory impacts, and increased spread of disease.

Climate change is also having an impact on mental health, as people of all ages struggle with uncertainty and anxiety surrounding the changes taking place.

Here are some links for further information:

  • Eco-Anxiety and How to Cope provides further resources on coping with anxiety about environmental change.
  • Warming and Cooling Centres offer places you can go to in Waterloo Region when air quality, extreme heat or extreme cold is a concern.
  • The Intact Centre for Climate Adaptation (University of Waterloo) Infographics and Resources provide useful insights for protecting yourself, and your home.
  • “How to protect your home against climate change” is an article offering good tips and insights on protecting your home.

“Change is upon us. We can choose to see it as frightening and incapacitating, or we can embrace the opportunities and move forward with hope towards a more sustainable world.”

~ Wendy Priesnitz, Canadian environmental advocate

Sustainable Lifestyle Choices

To address climate change and avoid its worst impacts, we need to build more sustainable societies. Even though it’s not easy to be fully sustainable in our own lifestyles, it is still important to try. Wherever you may be in your own journey today, each of us can take positive steps to be more sustainable.

Taking such steps in our own lives can in turn have positive effects on the health of our environment, our local communities, and in shaping broader society. You may also find that you appreciate the results of these changes in your own life.

Here are some possibilities to consider:

a) Water stewardship


Possible actions include:

  • Use sand instead of salt in winter
    • Salt contaminates our waterways, and can harm plants, pets, and other animals.
    • Reduce salt use on driveways and walkways; use sand instead.
  • Water your plants and gardens with collected rainwater or greywater
    • Install a cistern, a rain barrel, or use greywater.
  • Apply mulch over your garden
    • Put mulch over soil to hold water during dry seasons.
    • Create your own mulch by removing the bagging unit on your mower and mowing over fallen leaves.
  • Plant native plants
    • Native plants are typically more tolerant to dry weather conditions.
    • Use natural landscaping to reduce water use.
    • Resource on finding native plants in Ontario here.


b) Compost household waste

Composting is an effective way to reduce your household waste, keeping it out of the landfill. It also produces rich, organic nourishment for your soil. Healthy soil is beneficial for growing food. Community gardens are often eager to take any finished compost you can’t use.


c) Consider how you move

“Restore human legs as a means of travel. Pedestrians rely on food for fuel and need no special parking facilities.”

~ Lewis Mumford

Possible actions include:

  • Increase your use of public and shared transportation
  • Learn about the GRT bike and ride services and their discounts for students and seniors.
  • Develop and maintain your ability to use active transit
    • BIKE! WALK! It’s good for you and the environment.
  • Explore local
    • Look for options to explore locally for getaways rather than traveling long distances by flying.
  • Carbon offsetting
    • Consider offsetting your current carbon-based energy consumption. Two organizations that are credible and recommended by the David Suzuki Foundation are Bullfrog Power and Less.ca


d) Buy less and share

Another great way to reduce your overall energy use and impact is to consider thrifting, regifting and sharing with others. This can have a lighter impact on the planet.

Community tool libraries and carshares are great examples of ways that we can share resources throughout our communities. One local example is the KW Library of Things, which offers access to tools, camping equipment and many other items to be shared across the community. They also take donations of gently used items, to share with the community.


e) Food choices

Climate change impacts around the world such as floods, drought, extreme temperatures and human conflicts may lead to food shortages, changes in food selection or availability, and fluctuations in food prices. We recommend striving to eat local, eat healthy, and “eat what you know.”


Possible actions include:

  • Support local food producers
  • Learn about how local food is grown. Practices such as organic, biodynamic, permaculture and no-till farming may help improve the resilience of local farmland.
  • Plant a vegetable garden
  • Plant food for pollinators
    • Native pollinators are under stress from a number of factors including climate change.
    • Plant different untreated flowers and/or wildflowers that bloom in early spring, late spring, summer and fall, to provide pollinators with food throughout their active seasons.
    • Add ‘bee hotels’ to your garden to help native bees nest and hibernate.
  • Eat more plant-based foods
    • A plant-based diet is healthy for you and the planet! Plant-based diets are often less environmentally harmful, with less emissions and impacts on the land to grow the food than common meat-based alternatives.

Resources to get started:

  • ‘Forks over Knives’ plant-based recipes and ideas
  • Dassana’s Veg Recipes (Indian vegetarian recipes)


Community gardening together.

f) Reduce your electricity and energy dependence


Possible actions include:

  • Reduce home energy use
    • Adjust the temperature of your home to reduce the need for heating and cooling.
    • Switch from incandescent to compact fluorescent bulbs and/or LEDs.
    • Unplug appliances that are not in use.
    • Get a home energy evaluation to learn how to save energy and money. A local provider is Reep Green Solutions.
  • Invest in alternative energy
    • Invest in local energy systems in your home such as geothermal and solar.
    • Consider supporting/investing in larger projects and efforts that promote and create alternative energy.

4. Community engagement

“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”

~ African Proverb


Climate change is a global challenge – however, people live in local communities, which is a good place to start when trying to respond to climate change and create a healthy community.

Connected communities are more resilient communities. This section suggests ways to build more connections in your neighbourhood and ways to use your existing community networks to better prepare for climate change impacts.

a) Get to know your neighbours

  • Start a community garden
  • Explore the website for the Waterloo Region Community Garden Network to find the closest one to you, or to learn how to start a garden.
  • Consider including flowers to attract and provide food for pollinators.
  • Be mindful of food insecurity
    • Unfortunately, not everyone has reliable access to good, nutritious food. Here are some ways you can help support those less fortunate.
      • Community Kitchen Coop KW
      • Food Bank of Waterloo Region
      • Food Not Bombs Kitchener
  • Share resources
    • Tools
    • Cars
    • Knowledge


Urban farm, Baltimore. Photo credit: Preston Keres/USDA/FPAC

b) Voting and civic engagement

  • Raise climate change issues with your government representatives
  • We need our governments to drive sustainability within our societies. We can get involved by working to influence government in this direction, especially by working with others.
  • Meet with and message your local politicians to encourage them to take action to address climate change on a larger scale.

United Nations Climate Summit 2014. Photo credit: UN Photo / UN PhotoCia Pak

c) Conservation

Both local and international conservation is important for the health of our planet. Local conservation authorities and land trusts play an important role in protecting local ecosystems, and could use your involvement and support. Examples include:

  • Grand River Conservation Authority
  • Rare Research Reserve (Cambridge)

Protecting biodiversity now creates sanctuaries for the future, which will ultimately protect us all.

Dr. Reimer has been involved with the International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC). Through fundraising with patients, approximately 140 hectares of rainforest have been protected from logging in Ecuador through the ICFC and Jocotoco Foundation. Check out the ICFC’s website – there are many conservation projects to get involved in.

5. Resources

For further resources on the links between climate change, human health, and ways you can act consider the following resources.

Climate adaptation resources:

  • Community Climate Adaptation Plan for Waterloo Region
  • Intact Centre for Climate Adaptation (University of Waterloo) Resources
  • Region of Waterloo Official Plan
  • Stories of Adaptation in Waterloo Region (video series)
  • TransformWR Climate Action Strategy

Equity and environmental justice:

  • Environmental justice (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment)
  • Businesses for climate justice
  • The Climate Justice Project (a partnership between the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the University of British Columbia)

Climate change and health:

  • Infectious Disease and Climate Change in Canada (Canadian Public Health Association Report)
  • Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) Resources (linking environment and health)

High Line Park on converted railway line, New York. Credit: USDA.

Site disclaimer

The content of this webpage has been created by Dr. Wendy Reimer and is a reflection of her personal views and research. It is not a comprehensive resource on climate change and health, and has been compiled with evidence-based information to the best of her ability.

Also, it’s important to note that we all struggle with how to best help our world, and none of us are perfect when it comes to environmental action. Even though action may be imperfect, all of us can still contribute in some way towards a healthier, more sustainable future.

Photo of Earth from space. Photo credit: NASA.