189279 Promoting sustainable development in Montreal in order to diminish the health impact of climate change

Monday, October 27, 2008: 3:10 PM

Louis Drouin, MD, MPH , Urban environment and health sector, Montreal public health department, Montreal, QC, Canada
Norman King, MSc , Urban environment and health sector, Montreal public health department, Montreal, QC, Canada
Patrice Pitre, MSc , Urban environment and health sector, Montreal public health department, Montreal, QC, Canada
François Thérien, MA , Urban environment and health sector, Montreal public health department, Montreal, QC, Canada
Sophie Paquin, PhD , Urban environment and health sector, Montreal public health department, Montreal, QC, Canada
André Bergeron, MA , Urban environment and health sector, Montreal public health department, Montreal, QC, Canada
Patrick Morency, MD, MSc, FRCP , Urban environment and health sector, Montreal public health department, Montreal, QC, Canada
Stéphane Perron, MD, MSc, FRCP , Urban environment and health sector, Montreal public health department, Montreal, QC, Canada
The changing climate can have various effects on the health of the population such as increased mortality during heat waves. It is thus necessary to determine objectives aimed at improving the built environment which will also protect public health and contribute to making Montreal a more sustainable city. Actions on many levels are required to attain these objectives. For example, the Montreal public health department (DSP) has produced geographical information system (GIS) based maps, which are very useful in identifying urban heat islands and vulnerable populations living therein. This information is used to guide those responsible for elaborating health protection and urban development and design measures. The DSP also supports groups who develop Agenda 21 sustainable development projects on the local level such as greening the environment and promoting active transportation. Evaluation research on the first two years of implementation of these projects is currently under way.

With respect to diminishing GHG emissions as part of the world-wide effort to slow climate change, major focus is placed on the transportation sector since it is responsible for 49% of these emissions in Montreal. Our main objective is to decrease the place occupied by the automobile in the urban environment and increase active and public transportation. We are thus an important partner in the City of Montreal's strategic plan for sustainable development and we also act to influence public policy on these issues at the provincial and federal government levels.

Learning Objectives:
Recognize the importance of defining and implementing strategies to promote the development of sustainable cities in order to protect public health in a context of climate change. Identify the types of intervention that can be put forth to contribute to sustainable development in the urban environment linked with public health objectives. Recognize the importance of acting on the transportation sector in order to contribute to the global effort of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and slowing climate change.

Keywords: Climate Change, Environment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have several years of expertise in this field
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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