Schools are frontline public infrastructure; central to children and youth health, community stability and emergency response. The climate crisis is already affecting school communities through:

• extreme heat
• wildfire smoke
• air quality events
• vector borne diseases
• flooding and storm disruptions
• climate related mental health impacts

Education systems cannot adapt effectively to the climate crisis without climate‑health intelligence from public health.

Climate Crisis Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) Assessments

Most public health units across Canada have completed, or are completing, Climate Change Health Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) Assessments. These reports identify local climate‑related health risks and projected impacts; essential information for planning and decision making.

Availability and visibility of these assessments vary widely.

The V&A Communication Gap

A 2023 review of Ontario’s 36 public health units found that V&A information is not being widely shared with the public, and is not reaching Ontario school districts.

Engagement with School Districts

Between February and May 2024, an outreach to Ontario’s English‑language public school districts explored whether they would consider the sharing of V&A information at their annual Community Planning and Partnerships (CPP) meetings.

Despite interest, no district proceeded for the 2023–24 school year. Barriers included:

• limited awareness of V&A assessments
• uncertainty about CPP processes
• past CPP practices that did not include climate‑health information

Systems Not Yet Ready: Recognizing the Climate Crisis as a Public Health Issue

In November 2023, Toronto Public Health (TPH) approved Public Health Impacts of Climate Change in Toronto, calling for climate‑health action. This framing is not reflected in the current TPH Healthy Schools Strategy.

A delegation to the TPH Board in October urged explicit recognition of the climate crisis as a public health issue within the Healthy Schools Strategy. The final Board motion emphasized mental health and student well‑being but omitted the climate crisis, despite its growing impact on school communities.

This pattern extends beyond Toronto.

Public health units must first recognize and articulate the climate crisis as a public health issue affecting children, learning environments and school operations. Only then can climate‑health information be meaningfully communicated to school districts.

Why This Matters

Climate‑driven health risks are already shaping daily school experience. Failing to acknowledge this reality limits preparedness and protection.

Recognizing the climate crisis as a public health issue is foundational to:

• sharing V&A information
• informing school district health and wellness strategies
• preparing learning environments for climate impacts
• supporting student and staff well‑being
• strengthening community planning

The need for coordinated action is immediate.

A Path Forward

Effective climate adaptation requires cross‑sector collaboration. Recognizing the climate crisis as a public health issue is the first step toward building the partnerships needed to support new-age, climate ready schools.