2011: 20th Annual John K. Friesen Conference
Population aging and climate change are two of the biggest challenges facing humanity this century. The 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) report states “There is now a strong, global scientific consensus that warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and is caused by human activity..” and resulting changes in weather patterns are “disrupting the balance of natural systems that supply the necessities of life”, namely air, water, food. At the same time, globally the proportion of people aged 60 and over is growing faster than any other age group. We saw glimpses of the disastrous effects of climate change on older adults after the 2003 heat-waves in Europe where the majority of deaths and morbidity occurred in older adults. More recently, the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health authorities recorded an additional 131 “all cause, all age” deaths during a particularly warm weather interval July 27-August 3, 2009, compared to the same calendar period 2004-2008. Most of these additional deaths were people aged 65 or older, but equally alarming is the fact that the greatest proportional increase in deaths was in the 45-65 age group (the “baby boomers”). However, extreme heat events are only one threat to human health from climate change. Warmer winters are also expected to bring increased precipitation, more severe and more frequent storms which can affect water supplies and sanitation. A Pacific Institute for Climate Change Solutions discussion paper emphasizes the need to focus attention on vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and those in sub-optimal health and socio-economic status, where climate change could have a de-stabilizing effect.
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FRIESEN CONFERENCE DAY 1, MAY 25TH, 2011 |
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OPENING REMARKS AND WELCOME |
Dr. Andrew Sixsmith, Dr. Laurie Anderson, Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid, |
(30 second start delay) |
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SESSION |
SPEAKER |
AFFILIATION |
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION |
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KEYNOTE 1 |
Dr. Carlos Corvalán |
Senior Advisor in Risk Assessment and Global Environmental Change, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO, Washington, DC, USA |
A global perspective on the interface between climate change and population aging |
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PANEL SESSION 1 Defining the Issues: Climate Science, Health and Gerontological Perspectives
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Dr. John Stone |
Carlton University, Ottawa, Canada |
(30 second start delay)
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Dr. Gloria Gutman |
Simon Fraser University, Gerontology Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada |
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George Tokesky |
Hospice by the Sea, Inc., Boca Raton, FL, USA |
Impact of climate change on the most vulnerable of older populations |
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PANEL SESSION 2 Mitigation and Prevention Strategies: Lessons Learned on the Front Lines |
Dr. Lisa Brown |
University of South Florida, Department of Aging and Mental Health Disparities, Tampa, FL, USA |
(30 second start delay)
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Dr. Tom Kosatsky |
British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Environmental Health Services, Vancouver, BC, Canada |
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Michael Weston |
Servision, Inc., Miami, FL, USA |
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Kathy Sykes |
Environmental Protection Agency, Aging Initiative, Washington, DC, USA |
Mitigating climate change and the short and long term benefits of acting now |
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KEYNOTE 2 |
Dr. Peter Berry |
Senior Policy Advisor, Health Canada, Climate Change and Health Office, Ottawa, ON, Canada |
(30 second start delay)
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| FREE PUBLIC LECTURE |
Dr. Carlos Corvalán | Senior Advisor in Risk Assessment and Global Environmental Change, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO, Washington, DC, USA | Climate Change and Health: Acting to Reduce Risks and Vulnerabilities |
(30 second start delay) |
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FRIESEN CONFERENCE DAY 2, MAY 26TH, 2011 |
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SESSION |
SPEAKER |
AFFILIATION |
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION |
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PANEL SESSION 3
Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for Aging Populations |
Dr. Stephen Sheppard |
University of British Columbia, The Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning (CALP), Vancouver, BC, Canada |
New tools and processes for aging visionaries: Elders as agents of change in the community |
(30 second start delay)
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Jennifer Pouliotte |
British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Climate Action Secretariat |
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Dr. Matthew White |
Simon Fraser University, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology |
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KEYNOTE 3 |
Dr. Gary Haq |
Senior Research Associate, Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, Heslington, York, UK |
Age of climate change: Opportunities and risks of climate change for an ageing population |
(30 second start delay) |
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PANEL SESSION 4
Preparing Aging Populations for Climate Change in British Columbia and Beyond |
Dr. Larry Frank |
University of British Columbia, School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada |
Built environment, health and how old you are: A view across the life span |
(30 second start delay)
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Dr. Michael Brauer |
University of British Columbia, School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada |
Climate change, air quality and chronic disease: Prospects for adaptation through urban design |
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Dr. Aleck Ostry |
University of Victoria, Faculty of Social Sciences, Victoria, BC, Canada |
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Dr. Tim Takaro |
Simon Fraser University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Burnaby, BC, Canada |
Special challenges for public health with climate change and aging populations: Waterborne illness |
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CLOSING REMARKS |
Dr. Andrew Sixsmith, |
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