Climate change is having devastating impacts on human health. Here’s what healthcare organizations are doing to cope.
Why It Matters
The impact climate change has on human health is far from abstract. Rising temperatures, new diseases, and a decline in the ozone layer could significantly impact the health of Canadians. Health focused social impact organizations must adapt to the realities of the climate crisis.
“First, do no harm” is the most famous passage of the Hippocratic Oath, the oldest ethical code for physicians in the Western world. In a different light, it could also be a guiding principle in the face of climate catastrophe.
Effective healthcare and climate change work share an emphasis on preventing a problem as more valuable than treating its consequences. Climate change is already imprinting itself on the health of Canadians, and medical organizations, including social impact organizations focused on health, are keenly aware. While doctors and nurses in Canada’s public health system focus on treating patients affected by rising temperatures, extreme weather, and a less hospitable education, health related social impact organizations such as the Canadian Lung Association and the Melanoma Network of Canada are playing an important role by educating Canadians.
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