The VRAC-PARC project: Leveraging public health expertise in the context of climate change
Summary of the presentation
Since 2019, Quebec’s public health departments have been identifying climate-related hazards and their consequences on population health as part of the VRAC-PARC project. The project is coordinated by the INSPQ and the MSSS and implemented at the regional level by the public health departments. The goal is to assess regional vulnerabilities and risks related to climate change in order to develop public health adaptation plans. It relies on data collection to identify priority risks and uses a participatory approach for targeting promising adaptation measures. The project demonstrates the key role that the healthcare system plays in adaptation and encourages collaboration with other organizations in the region to reduce social inequalities, strengthen resilience and promote alignment with other major adaptation initiatives.
Learning objectives
Explain the objectives and methodology of the VRAC-PARC project in order to better understand its approach
Describe the opportunities for coordination and collaboration between public health departments and other organizations in the region that are involved in climate change adaptation
Outline the strategic role of public health in adaptation efforts
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* Presentation in french
Elsa Landaverde is a trained nurse and holds a master's degree in environmental health and a D.E.S.S. in public health from the University of Montreal. She is developing her research skills as a research professional at the University of Sherbrooke, where she is working on projects related to the socio-health impacts of flooding in Quebec and the psychological impacts of COVID-19. She is now a scientific advisor at the National Institute of Public Health and project manager for VRAC-PARC. Her expertise supports public health authorities in relation to the health risks of climate change and equitable adaptation.
Olivier Leclerc Urban Planner, MD, Coordinator and Scientific Advisor, INSPQ Olivier Leclerc is an urban planner with a doctorate in medicine and a certificate in social intervention. As coordinator and scientific advisor at INSPQ, he works on issues related to land use planning, climate change adaptation, and environmental assessment. With extensive experience in participatory processes, he works on the development of public policies, adaptation plans, and health-promoting development practices, as well as the implementation of a just and inclusive socio-ecological transition.
