BC Lung's Air Quality & Health Workshop 2022 - 'Gimme Shelter' - Adapting the Indoor Environment to Reduce the Harmful Impacts of Climate Change
With a changing climate, many locations in Canada will see more extreme weather events. Heat events will become more frequent and more intense. The wildfire season is also expected to become longer with more frequent and severe fires.
Wildfire smoke and extreme heat events can also co-occur. In these circumstances, people are simultaneously exposed to two physiological stressors. Those who are most susceptible to the health effects associated with exposure to wildfire smoke are also more susceptible to the health effects associated with exposure to extreme heat.
The risks associated with both wildfire smoke and extreme heat can be mitigated through a variety of measure, including education, adaptation, and developing resiliency and preparedness in communities and health systems. Adapting indoor environments to ensure they remain cool with relatively clean air during smoke and/or heat episodes is an important tool in preventing illness related to heat and air pollution.
The 2022 BC Lung Workshop will explore how the indoor environment can be used as an effective adaptation to the changing climate, particularly related to extreme heat and wildfire smoke. Organized annually, the event brings together air quality and environmental health experts and policymakers to share new insights regarding priority public health issues.