Submission ID 131873
| Issue/Objective | As extreme heat, cold, and poor air quality increase in frequency, the need for appropriate climate change adaptation strategies continues to grow. One initiative is the Waterloo Region, Heat, Cold, and Air Quality network (WRHCAN), which is coordinated by Region of Waterloo Public Health (ROWPH) and includes a network of organizations that offer warming, cooling, and clean air spaces. Waterloo Region also grapples with intersecting issues such as, the housing crisis, opioid crisis, and mental health crisis. This work aligns with the conference theme by highlighting how extreme weather events may exacerbate inequities among people who are disproportionately affected. This work also addresses the capacity of social and public health systems to respond in an uncertain climate context. |
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| Methodology/Approach | This research was guided by an existing partnership with ROWPH and followed a case study design. Semi-structured interviews (n=13) were conducted with WRHCAN members, with two additional follow up interviews. To triangulate data, focus groups with ROWPH staff members were conducted and field notes were taken at in-person WRHCAN meetings to gain a contextual understanding on how the network operates. Interview data was transcribed using a naturalized transcription approach and thematically analyzed using an iterative inductive-deductive approach. |
| Results | The WRHCAN provides valuable coordination of heat, cold, and air quality alerts in Waterloo Region, and information and resource sharing between organizations. However, organizational limitations between warming, cooling, and clear air spaces provide an opportunity for clearer communication on the supports offered at various spaces, specifically for diverse populations. Warming, cooling, and clean air spaces provide temporary relief from extreme temperature and poor air quality events. These spaces may contribute to, but are not a solution for, broader systems-level challenges in Waterloo Region. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Findings will contribute to scholarly knowledge in strengthening local and regional health and social service systems and current climate change adaptation strategies. Importantly, understanding coordination of the WRHCAN ensures that climate adaptation strategies are responsive to the needs of those that are disproportionately affected by extreme weather events. This study also emphasizes the need to integrate climate adaptation strategies with broader public health efforts addressing housing insecurity, substance use, and mental health. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Hateem Noor University of Waterloo Sabeen Abbas University of Waterloo Warren Dodd University of Waterloo Hateem Noor University of Waterloo |
