Launch of the 2018 Canada-specific Lancet Countdown Report

October 29, 2018

#LancetClimate18

From wildfires to heat emergencies climate change is the greatest threat to health today.

Join Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Canadian Policy Brief authors, Drs. Courtney Howard and James Orbinski as they reveal top Canadian climate-health challenges and recommendations for a healthy response to climate change.

The Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change is an international research collaboration dedicated to tracking the world's response to climate change and how it affects global health. Reporting annually in The Lancet, it follows a series of indicators, demonstrating that this transition is possible, that it has already begun, but that more work is needed.

The launch of the 2018 edition of the Canada-specific report will focus in on some key indicators that are particularly relevant in the Canadian context:

Heat-related public health emergencies;
Mortality rates related to air pollution from coal and other contributors;
Health benefits of a strong, predictable price on carbon;
Trends in media coverage of climate change and health; and
Impact of climate change on mental health.

The discussion will offer insights into the Canadian indicators in the global context, allowing for health policy-makers, academics and others to learn more about action towards a healthy climate in Canada. A Q&A session will follow the presentation by Drs. Howard, Orbinski, and others.

Date: Thursday November 29^th 2018

Location: Nat Taylor Cinema, Room 102 - Ross North Building, York University

Agenda: Two consecutive sessions; see details and list of panellists below:

Morning Panel (9:00am-11:30am)

9am-11:30am: Launch of the 2018 Canada-specific Lancet Countdown Report will include a presentation, panel discussion, and a Q&A portion by:

Sandy Buchman (Canadian Medical Association),
Ian Culbert (Canadian Public Health Association),
Ian Hamilton (Lancet Countdown),
Katie Hayes (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto),
Courtney Howard (Lancet Countdown),
James Orbinski (Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research), and
George Kitching (Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University).

8:30am-9:00am	30 mins	Arrive, coffee
9:00	10 mins	Welcome by James Orbinski, Director DIGHR, York U
9:10	5 mins	Intro/bio of Ian Hamilton
9:15	15 mins	Presentation on the Lancet Commissions and the Countdown project main messages of the 2018 International Countdown Report
9:30	5 mins	Intro/bio of Courtney Howard
9:35	15 mins	Presentation of the 2018 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Briefing for Canadian Policy Makers
9:50	5 mins	Intro/bio of Sandy Buchman
9:55	15mins	Canadian Medical Association (CMA) reacts to the combined reports
10:10	5 mins	Intro/bio of Ian Culbert
10:15	15mins	Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) reacts to the combined reports
10:30	15 mins	Break
10:45am-11:30am	45 mins	Panel Discussion and Q&A moderated by Ian Hamilton

Afternoon Panel (1:00pm-4:00pm)

1pm-4pm: Civil Society Initiatives on “Health and Climate Change”. The panel will offer insights into the Canadian indicators in the global context. Panelists include:

Steve Cornish (David Suzuki Foundation),
Carol Devine (Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF),
Joseph Pallant (Blockchain For Climate Foundation),
Jose Etcheverry (Sustainability Energy Initiative, York University), and
Edward Xie (Global Health Emergency Medicine, University of Toronto).

1:00pm	15 mins	Welcome by James Orbinski, Director DIGHR, York U
1:15	5 mins	Intro/bio of Carol Devine
1:20	15 mins	Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
1:35	5 mins	Intro/bio Steve Cornish
1:40	15 mins	David Suzuki Foundation
1:55	5 mins	Intro/bio of Edward Xie
2:00	15 mins	Global Health Emergency Medicine, U of Toronto
2:15	5 mins	Intro/ bio of Joseph Pallant
2:20	15 mins	Blockchain For Climate Foundation
2:35	5 mins	Intro/bio Jose Etcheverry
2:40	15 mins	York University’s Sustainability Energy Initiative
2:55pm-3:45pm	50 mins	Public Q&A
3:45pm-4:00pm	15 mins	Close by Courtney Howard and James Orbinski