The health units that oversee the Guelph Area and the Region of Waterloo are teaming up to study the health-related impacts of climate change.
The collaboration between Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health and the Region of Waterloo Public Health hopes to reduce the risks and strengthen resilience against current and future changes to the climate at a local level.
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The health units will focus on addressing rising temperatures, extreme weather, diseases such as Lyme disease and West Nile Virus, along with food and water-borne illnesses and air pollution.
The study is also expected to make recommendations to decision-makers and stakeholders to help them respond to the impacts of climate change and raise awareness.
The three-year project is expected to involve a large amount of data collection and involve multiple community partners across all levels of government.
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The two health units jointly applied for and received $300,000 from Health Canada for the study.
They will be working with ICLEI, a non-profit organization that works with local governments to achieve improvements in sustainability and resilience.
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