Why C-CIARN?

• To connect researchers and decision-makers for more decision-relevant research

• Coordination and collaboration between researchers and across disciplines

• Engagement of broader research capacity• Visibility and voice for the community• Timely communication of findings and techniques

C-CIARN Mission

The National, Regional and Sectoral C-CIARN Coordinating Offices will build a network of climate change researchers and stakeholders, facilitate research, and help to provide voice and visibility to impacts and adaptation issues.

•

Agriculture (U. of Guelph)

Fisheries (DFO Nanaimo)

Health (HC Ottawa)

Forest (CFS Edmonton)

Coastal Zone (BIO Dartmouth)

Landscape Hazards (GSC Ottawa)Water Resources

(McGill U., Montreal)

Quebec (Ouranos, Montreal)

Ontario (Laurentian U, Sudbury)

British Columbia (UBC, Vancouver)

Atlantic (Dal. U., Halifax)

Prairies (U. of Regina)

North (Yukon College,

Whitehorse)

YukonNWTNunavut

C-CIARN Board

Steering Committee

National C-CIARN Coordinating Office

Sectors Regions

AgricultureAdvisory Comm.

Prov/Terragencies

Universities

Communities

NGOs Private Sector

Federal Depts.

$500,000 over 5 yrs. Through the Federal Impacts and Adaptation Research Program

EARTHCARE Sudbury

Partnerships:

Towards an Adaptation Action Plan: Climate Change and Health in the

Toronto-Niagara RegionPOLLUTION PROBE

in partnership withEnvironment Canada

Health CanadaOntario College of Family Physicians

City of Toronto; City of Mississagua/Peel HealthUniversity of Toronto

www.pollutionprobe.org/Reports/adaptation.pdf

Extreme Temperatures:

Maximum Temperature Scenario - CGCM1-GHG+A ensemble run

TORONTO PEARSON (6158733)

0

1020

30

4050

60

1961-90 2020s 2050s 2080s

Scenario Period

Days

>=30

>=32

>=35

• Climate change would increase the frequency of hot days, (e.g., Toronto) leading to an increase in 239-835 additional heat-related deaths annually by 2080; 171-447 elderly in the TNR by 2020s

EFFECT OF CHANGE IN MEANTEMPERATURES ON EXTREME

HEAT EVENTS

Extreme Weather Events

• Warmer and more variable climate likely to cause more frequent and more intense severe weather events:• e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, floods, droughts

• Potential health impacts:• direct physical injury or death (e.g., due to storms, floods, etc.)• psychological distress due to the loss or injury of loved ones and

property• mass evacuations• moving into shelters

• Consequences:• increased demands on emergency preparedness and community

health and social services

Air Quality Influence of Hot Weather on O3 • 1,925 premature deaths in

Ontario annually; $1B costs to the economy

• 2002 most smog alerts & days since 1993

• Offensive air masses could increase in frequency from 5% to 23% (29-39%)

• Background ambient levels of O3 could double (+40 ppb)

Vector-borne and Rodent-borne Diseases

• Malaria• West Nile Virus• Dengue Fever• Lyme Disease• Hantavirus 0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

ReportedLow EstimateHigh Estimate

Imported Cases of Malaria in Canada, 1984-1997

• West Nile Encephalitis, New York, 1999

• 59 reported cases, 7 deaths

• 8,200 infections (3,500 - 13,000) 1,700 with fever

• 277 confirmed positive birds• 218 confirmed positive mosquito pools• 45 confirmed positive cases in horses; 35 probable• 48 confirmed positive cases in humans; 72 probable; 1 confirmed death; 6 others probable

• Heat waves and droughts:• lower flows of water in lakes and rivers• lead to water scarcity, poor water quality and may increase

water‑borne diseases (Cryptosporidium,Giardia)

• Heavy storms and floods:• surface water can be contaminated by storm sewer overflows• (Pathogens from livestock sources and heavy rainfall/runoff linked

to contamination of drinking water (e.g. Walkerton outbreak of E. coli O157)

• Hot weather:• can cause increased growth of micro‑organisms and disease

outbreaks at recreational beaches, as well as food poisoning from fish and shellfish

Quantity/Quality of Water and Food

UV-Radiation

• Warmer climate will encourage more outdoor activities (esp. among children) leading to more exposure to UV-B radiation

• Number of days with high/extreme UV has increased from 30-40 days in 1989 to 60 days by 1995 (Toronto)

• Ozone layer will take 50+ years to recover, leading to increased risk of skin cancer, eye disorders and impaired immune system; mortality will peak in 2060

• Most of the 370 current deaths annually from melanoma are due to UV radiation exposure when the stratospheric ozone layer had not yet begun to thin

• Increase research into climate change impacts and adaptation– meaningful to local stakeholders

• Monitoring and Surveillance– longitudinal assessments = long term commitment

– designed to provide appropriate information (climate and health) needed for health policy

– Who is responsible for collecting this info?

– What data exists now? Is it accessible?

Opportunities to Improve Adaptive Capacity