Climate change is a public health issue. Schools are interconnected with community life and need to become resilient to climate change.
Q. Is information available to inform Ontario, Canada school districts about the local health impacts of climate change?
A. Yes. Ontario’s public health units have completed, or are in the process of completing, Climate Change Health Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) Assessments.
Q. Is this information being shared with Ontario school districts?
A. No. Ontario school districts are not using V&A information to assist their resilience to climate change.
Q. Is there a policy mechanism that Ontario school districts could use to receive V&A information from local health units?
A. Yes. In keeping with the 2015 Community Planning and Partnerships Guideline, Ontario school districts are required to hold at least one meeting per year with community organizations, including health units, to share information of value for community planning.
The V&A / CPP Campaign
25 Ontario school districts were contacted between February and May 2024 for Stage 1 of the campaign to inquire whether they would request their local health units to share V&A information at the annual 2023-24 CPP meeting.
Despite some good conversations and interest, no agreement was been achieved from any school district to proceed for 2023-2024. Past practices, a lack of awareness, and the need for clarity about internal CPP organizing processes were key inhibitors.
Stage 2 of the campaign is building upon the foundation of Stage 1 to advance the sharing of V&A information at the 2024-25 CPP meeting of one or more of these school districts.
Why the Community Planning and Partnerships Meetings?
School district climate resiliency requires community cross sectoral communication and collaboration. The CPP annual meeting is a unique school district policy that provides a framework for this communication and collaboration to occur.
Climate change health assessments can inform decision-making, enhance community resilience, and ultimately create healthier environments for students and educators.