Hot Topics: Co-Creating Equity-Informed Emergency Planning and Policy with Affected Communities to Address Heat-Related Crises in British Columbia

Extreme weather events from heat domes to storms to flooding signal the pressing nature of the climate
emergency. These events often leave citizens scrambling to respond and public officials in a reactive mode. This is becoming increasingly true with the intensity and unpredictability of environmental hazards. A prime example is the June 2021 extreme heat event, dubbed the “Heat Dome,” that impacted British Columbia. In one week, there were 619 deaths from heat stroke and other heat- related illnesses caused by sustained high temperatures. Most of the people who died were elderly or had other determinants of health that made them vulnerable to heat. In addition to the direct impacts of extreme heat events, heat-related crises, such as drought, wildfire smoke and food systems die-off, are also having an increasingly large impact on human health. To better prepare for these events and plan for protecting those most vulnerable to negative health impacts, our research partnership is informed by a planetary health and intersectional policy lens to create safe spaces for affected communities to tell their stories so that policy-makers can learn from their lived experiences and improve outcomes, with findings relevant to local governments and across jurisdictions in British Columbia.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sarah Marie Wiebe

Student:

Partner:

First Nations Health Authority

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Public administration

University:

University of Victoria

Program: