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Climate Change

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In Our Region

Climate change is an important health issue impacting people in Simcoe Muskoka. Climate change is caused by an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They're called greenhouse gases because they trap heat from the sun. As humans emit more of these gases into the air, the trapped sunlight warms our atmosphere.

In Ontario, greenhouse gas emissions come from many sources. Emissions mainly come from burning fossil fuels for cars, factories, and from the energy needed for buildings and homes. Other emissions also come from the agricultural sector, waste disposal, and electrical generation.

Simcoe Muskoka's Future Climate

In Simcoe Muskoka, temperatures have increased since the middle of the 20th century and are projected to continue increasing. By the 2020s, temperature increase above 1990 levels is expected to make the climate in Southern Ontario feel like Ohio; by the 2050s, our climate will be similar to that of Kentucky; and by the 2080s, our regular climate will be like that of Mississippi today.

Everyone in our communities feels the effects of climate change. But it can be harder on the health of some people more than others. Factors like age, gender, health status, income, and access to resources (e.g., health care, safe and affordable housing, nutritious and affordable foods) all influence how much impact our changing climate will have on our health.

Climate change influences conditions of everyday life which shapes health and wellbeing. Some ways climate change impacts health include: 

  • More summer heat warnings can cause heat-related illness and hospitalizations.
  • More extreme storms can cause injuries and illnesses, as well as community-wide emergencies.
  • Poor air quality and wildfire smoke events can lead to increases in respiratory and cardiovascular illness.
  • More exposure to UV radiation can cause increases in skin cancers.
  • Changing weather will also affect water and food safety, and the ability to grow food. It can also impact food security.
  • Warming temperatures will create conditions that will increase the presence and numbers of vectors that carry diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease.
  • Mental and psychosocial health is also impacted by climate change in different ways. Many people experience negative climate emotions.

We work to assess and address the health impacts of climate change through the application of public health functions. We work to implement and influence strategies that:

  • decrease greenhouse gas emissions (climate mitigation); and
  • to help people adapt (climate adaptation), through programs like our extreme temperature response strategy. 


We’ve also created a Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Assessment that shows what our local climate is going to look like out to the 2080s, and what some of our health impacts for the region will be. We are also encouraging action on climate change by:
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