Development and Implementation of an Impact-Based Heat Warning and Information Service for Canada: A National and Regional Collaboration

Climate change and variability are affecting the health and wlll-being of people around the globe and these risks are increasing. In Canada, the health of Canadians is being impacted by climate change through extreme heat events among others; in 2009, for example, a heat wave struck Vancouver, British Columbia resulting in significant death with over 100 mortalities. The World Health Organization (WHO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued joint guidance in 2015 on warning system development to reduce heat health risk, warning that these events will increase in the future due to climate change. Prior to 2015, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) used heat warning criteria based solely on climatological data. With the WHO and WMO guidance and available health analysis, ECCC is modernizing their Heat Warning criteria to reflect a standardized service with regional character. This presentation will detail how historical climate data and GIS (Geographical Information System) mapping have been used to develop heat warning regions, supported by health expertise, to develop evidence-based heat warnings across Canada. Both the national and regional perspective in the implementation of the new impact-based heat warning service will be highlighted, specifically the operationalization of the client-focused service, the importance of relationship development, and how lessons learned have shaped the ongoing improvement of the service.