Title: Assessing Health Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change: Health Canada's Guidance for Public Health Officials

Climate variability and change are increasing risks to the health of Canadians in communities across Canada. Addressing the challenges posed by climate change requires knowledge of risks from current climate hazards, projected impacts of future climate change, the unique vulnerabilities facing specific populations, communities or regions, and measures to effectively protect health. An increasing number of health authorities from local to national levels in Canada are undertaking assessments to expand understanding of climate change impacts on health and adaptation options, educate and engage stakeholders and the public and influence policy development. Climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessments: (1) Provide information on the expected distribution and severity of future climate change and health impacts to health and emergency management officials, stakeholders and the public; (2) Inform efforts to mainstream information on the health impacts of climate change into existing policies and programs and/or develop new initiatives to reduce the health impacts of climate change; and (3) Support the development of inter-sectoral relationships and collaborations to influence upstream determinants of health in the context of greater climate change stressors.Building on assessment guidance developed by the World Health Organization, Health Canada developed the “Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Workbook” that integrates greater considerations of gender and Indigenous Population issues and knowledge into assessment steps along with guidance and indicators for gauging the resilience of health systems and services to climate change impacts.