Health
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” That means it is determined by fundamental biological elements as well as by social elements such as income and working conditions.
For more than 20 years now, climate change, which is expected to increase in frequency and intensity, has been affecting health. It can have consequences on both physical and mental health and can interfere with the various determinants of health. It is important to integrate health into climate action, and vice versa.
In 2017, 93% of Canadians who acknowledged the existence of climate change indicated that it was already a health risk (53%) or will be in the future (40%). More than half (55%) feel personally vulnerable in this regard.
Determinants of health
According to the Institut national de santé publique du Québec [INSPQ, Quebec national public health institute], health determinants are all the factors that influence a population’s health, without necessarily being direct causes of specific problems or illnesses.
Health determinants are associated with individual and collective behaviours, living conditions and environments.
For example:
The economic and working environment: income, education, employment, food insecurity
The physical environment: water and air quality, housing, land use planning
The social environment: social support network, stereotypes, social exclusion
There are disparities in the distribution of these determinants between different levels of society, resulting in health inequalities. This social gradient in health is linked to the unequal distribution of power, resources, goods and services. That means it’s important to take this issue into account when taking action on health determinants.
To learn more about the link between inequalities and health, see our special dossier entitled Social Inequalities and Climate Change.
Learn about the Social and Health Challenges adaptation priority
Last update of the page : December 2025.
