{"id":49627,"date":"2021-08-11T13:13:35","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T17:13:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/?p=49627"},"modified":"2025-07-02T04:08:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T08:08:46","slug":"extreme-heat-events-affect-the-vulnerable-the-most-this-must-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/49627\/extreme-heat-events-affect-the-vulnerable-the-most-this-must-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Extreme Heat events affect the vulnerable the most. This must change."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Extreme heat kills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Climate change is increasing the severity<\/a> and frequency of extreme heat waves, sea-level rise and flooding across Canada. The people most susceptible to dying in extreme heat waves are people of colour<\/a>, the elderly, people with underlying health conditions, mental illness or addiction who live alone in precarious housing and in units without adequate air-conditioning. Last month\u2019s devastating and shocking heatwave in British Columbia<\/a> contributed to 815 deaths<\/a> and the 2018 heatwave in Quebec<\/a> led to 70 deaths. Extreme heat kills, and has devastating effects most notably on the vulnerable<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

These events have a disproportionately negative impact on poor and marginalized communities who generally have small carbon footprints<\/a>. 3.1 billion people make up 50% of the world\u2019s poorest population and generate only about 7% of the cumulative emissions that are harming the planet. Meanwhile, the 63 million people who comprise the world\u2019s richest 1% produce more than double that amount, or 15% of total global emissions!<\/p>\n\n

In other words \u2013 those who have done the least to contribute to the negative impacts of the climate crisis will suffer the most.<\/p>\n\n

What are some solutions to this unprecedented challenge?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

As smoke filled B.C. skies due to the intensifying wildfires that followed the heatwave, some of the health and safety advice<\/a> put out to the public reflected the ways in which our current system is not set up to handle the unequal impacts of the escalating climate crisis. Telling people to buy air conditioners, air purifiers or to shelter in place only works for those with resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

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"Poorer neighbourhoods typically have fewer green spaces and so heat up more…The rich also buy up cooling equipment at high prices once a heatwave is underway and have many more options to flee, underscoring the importance of public health planning."https:\/\/t.co\/S3PHxlPT3j<\/a><\/p>— Greenpeace Canada (@GreenpeaceCA) July 8, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>