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Putting Environmental Equity on the Map

During intense heat waves, like those seen across the world over recent months, the most vulnerable members of communities often suffer the biggest impacts. Cities can reduce this burden by targeting heat-mitigating interventions in areas where vulnerable populations are exposed to hotter temperatures. However, pinpointing these hotspots can be a challenge because nationally standardized, locally relevant data that can help direct resources to those most at risk of negative outcomes from heat have so far been unavailable to public health professionals, urban planners and policy makers.

This webinar will present HealthyPlan.City, a new and innovative pan-Canadian tool that combines land surface temperature and tree canopy cover data with socio-demographic data to show areas of ‘equity priority’ where higher proportions of vulnerable populations (older adults, children, low-income individuals, visible minority individuals, and people who live alone) and hotter temperatures coincide. In July, a landmark series of stories by CBC News/Radio-Canada used the tool to highlight areas that should be prioritized because of their heightened risk of extreme heat and limited capacity to respond to these temperatures. Identifying where these vulnerable populations live can help public health professionals and urban planners prioritize resources before and during heatwaves to prevent the most severe population health outcomes.


Jeffrey Brook
Scientific Director and Nominated Principal Investigator, CANUE
Co-Director, HealthyDesign.City

Dany Doiron
Managing Director, CANUE
Co-Director, HealthyDesign.City

Sep 22, 2022 12:00 PM in Vancouver