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As part of its mandate under the Ontario Public Health Standards, the Durham Region Health Department (DRHD) initiated a series of climate change and health vulnerability assessments (CCHVAs) to identify current and future health impacts of climate change related to extreme heat, extreme weather, poor air quality, vector-borne disease, ultraviolet radiation, food and water, and mental health. These assessments will provide valuable information to decision makers, municipalities, community organizations and residents to recognize, respond to and reduce climate related health impacts.

This primer serves as a background reference document for the vulnerability assessments by providing:

• a global and local overview of climate change and related health impacts;
• an equity focussed framework for defining, assessing and addressing climate vulnerability;
• a summary of the approach undertaken to complete the assessments; and,
• local environmental and community features relevant to assessing climate-related health risks.