Hamilton, On can reduce the impact of increasing heat on the community's health through sustainable solutions
heat causes
Financial Loss
due to
Stress
unsafe outdoor conditions
such as
farming
which results in
decreased crop yields
leads to
food insecurity
infrastructure malfunction
leads to
less economic production
increased health care costs
due to
increased sickness
leads to
increased needs
such as
medication
hospice
acute medical care
days off
leads to
Job loss
poverty
through
poor performance
leads to
material deprivation
stress
leads to
poor health
increased risk
sickness
chronic illnesses
poor mental health
shame
leads to
isolation
leads to
poor mental health
unhealthy coping mechanisms
such as
drugs
gambling
alcohol
tobacco
overeating
Sustainable Solutions
such as
Policy Changes
that encourage
green energy
such as
Solar Energy
Wind Energy
geothermal energy
which decreases
CO2 Emissions
energy efficiency
which decreases
fossil fuel burning
Better Urban Design
Community centers
encourage
indoor physical activity
prevents
sedentary lifestyles
improves
physical health
quality of life
happiness
Green Spaces
Green Rooftops
decreases heat absportion
which
cools entire building
decreases A/C usage
Trees
Decrease CO2
decreases heat absorption
Cooling Effect
with ammenities
such as
bathrooms
water fountains
rain shelters
encourages
outdoor physical activity
prevents
sedentary lifestyles
using white paint
reduces Urban Heat Island Effect
by
increases light reflection
decreases heat absorption
using air corridors
improve air flow
decrease air pollution
less air pollution
such as
promoting
public transit
by improving
routes
intracity transport
intercity transport
reliability
active transit
by increasing
safety
through
footpaths
lighting
community watch
shade
by
planting more trees
public awareness
about
dangers of air pollution
benefits of active transport
community
which leads to
cooperation
local investments
socialization
provides
inter-personal support
individual change
During Heatwaves
by
staying indoors
staying cool
drinking water
city cooling centers
public
open to all
avoiding physical activity
checking on others
prevents
deaths
isolation
decrease
heatwaves frequency
impact of heatwaves
cause of increased heat
Climate Change
caused by
Increased CO2
caused by
Cars
Heavy Industry
Natural Gas Burning
increases
heatwaves
becomes
more frequent
in summer
fewers cool days
more hot days
more severe
results in
hotter nights
hotter days
increased humidity
types
Low Severity
very common
mild risk
Severe
impacts
elderly
young children
people with chronic medical conditions
outdoor workers
results in
moderate risk
limiting risk
Extreme
impacts
everyone
limits activities
such as
working outside
outdoor activities
working in warm workplaces
communication
socialization
travelling
being outside
infrastructure
such as
blackouts
train delays
bridge failure
flight cancellations
less energy production
telecommunication failures
such as
SMS
Internet
car breakdowns
refrigeration failures
causes
spoiled frozen goods
impacts
food transport chains
such as
trucks
trains
decreased industrial activity
such as
manufacturing
assembly
processing
due to
melting materials
overheating
changing air pressures
expanding materials
heat causes
Biodiversity Lost
occurs on
Land
caused by
Changing Habitable Zones
due to
Warming Temperatures
habitats become
too hot
results in
finding new habitat
stress
leads to
extinction
population decline
such as
Decreased pollinators
not too cold
results in
migration northward
results in
expand habitat
spread of disease
invasive species
Changing Weather Patterns
such as
Dryness
leads to
poor plant growth
droughts
Increased Forest Fires
Releases Smoke
lowers air quality
kills wildlife
Injuries
property damage
Precipitation
leads to more
Floods
Thunderstorms
leads to
decreased crop yields
less livestock
small fish harvests
leads to
poor nutrition
food insecurity
Water
results
decreased fish populations
caused by
Warming Water
which can
stress organisms
leads to
lower reproduction
premature deaths
susceptibility to disease
cook organisms
acidification
leads to
stress organisms
increased pathogens
heat causes
Poor Human Health
through
Poor Air Quality
because of
Increasing Pollen
More Air Pollutants
increases
illness
such as
asthma
allergies
cardiovascular conditions
such as
narrowing arteries
lung conditions
kidney disease
Increased Disease
such as
Zootic Diseases
caused by
Ticks
causes
Lyme Disease
Mosquitos
causes
Zika virus
yellow fever
dengae
west nile disease
Noncommunicable diseases
such as
heart disease
liver disease
due to
Increased Antibiotic Resistance
which leads to
more sickness
more communicable diesase
fewer treatment models
endemics/pandemics
Heat Related Illness
varying severity
Heat Cramps
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke
80% fatality
organ failure
symptoms
irregular heart rate
pale skin
vomiting
confusion
seizures
cool skin
Mental Illness
increases
anxiety
depression
stress
leads to
isolation
shame
low productivity
food insecurity
results in
poor nutrition
results in
more illness
poor growth
Impacting infants
such as
premature birth
results in
less development
lower cognitive function
decreased lung function
low birth weights
prenatal air pollution exposure
results in
decreased life expectancy
discouraging outdoor activity
which causes
sedentary lifestyles
increases
risk of diabetes
cardiovascular disease
cause of increased heat
Urban Heat Island Effect
Cities Absorb Heat
due to
design
poor air flow
heat absorbing materials
such as
asphalt
concrete
dark shingles
dark sidings
releases absorbed heat
increases
daytime temperatures
nighttime temperatures
prevents nightly cooling
vehicles
give off heat
increase air pollution
industry
heat by products
urban sprawl
decreasing green space
due to
parking lots
massive streets
highways
more buildings
pushes urban boundaries
breaches wild life habitat
increased pandemics
increases A/C use
increases
energy use
CO2 emissions