Climate change health costs to balloon: study

A report by a federally funded research group says climate change will add more than $100 billion to Canada's health-care costs by mid-century.

The Canadian Institute for Climate Choices says effects on health are likely to be heaviest among those who are already disadvantaged.

NEW REPORT📄 Climate change isn't just an environmental and economic threat—it's a threat to public health in Canada. Adapting to #climatechange will reduce costs and save lives. #cdnpoli https://t.co/xBl9iQUWS7

— Canadian Institute for Climate Choices (@ClimateChoices) June 2, 2021

Report author Ryan Ness says the biggest cost — $86 billion — is likely to be caused by declining air quality.

Ness says increasing temperatures are expected to result in more ground-level ozone, a gas that helps create smog.

He adds that studies from the 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alta., show that events related to climate change can also have major mental-health effects that could cost billions by 2050.