Canadians say air quality is affecting their health — and they want action
Climate change and worsening air quality worldwide is becoming a health crisis. Rising temperatures increase the risks of air pollution and worsening air quality. While air pollutants have generally decreased over the last few years, more needs to be done. More than 15,000 Canadians die due to air pollution-related causes every year.
Canadians are already seeing how air pollution can be bad for their health. Exposure to air pollution can lead to coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath, getting infections more easily, lung tissue redness and swelling and lung cancer. It can also lead to worsening of existing lung diseases like asthma or COPD.
It is critical that action is taken to improve air quality and reduce the impact on lung health today and for future generations. The Canadian Lung Association engaged experts from across various fields to explore this issue and help us figure out our next steps.
2023 Air quality poll results
86% feel that solutions that address the health affects of air quality should be a priority when it comes to addressing climate change
36% say poor air quality and worsening air pollution associated with climate change is directly affecting their health
52% say air quality is having a bigger impact on the decisions they make in daily life
58% have noticed in the past year, a bigger impact on their health from worsening air quality related to climate change events (like wildfires)
79% are concerned about how traffic emissions are affecting air quality
82% support the introduction of interim five-year targets to ensure zero by 2040 is on track
According to a poll on air quality conducted by Abacus Data for the Canadian Lung Association in October 2023 (sample size of 2,200 adults).
2021 Air quality poll results
Which of the following describes how climate change is affecting your health?
30%
Climate change is directly affecting my health because of poor air quality and the higher risk of floods, forest fires or storms.
55%
I don’t think climate change is impacting my health but I worry about the future impacts on me and future generations.
15%
I don’t think climate change will have an important impact on my health.
Please select up to three things you would be willing to do to improve air quality and protect yourself and other Canadians from air pollution.
57%
Take action to reduce energy use in your home.
37%
Buy an electric vehicle.
33%
Use tools that could help you monitor indoor and outdoor air quality.
32%
Wear a mask during poor outdoor air quality/ air pollution.
29%
Carpool or use public transportation.
24%
Use air travel less.
19 %
Reduce use of wood stoves.
17 %
Use the Air Quality Health Index to reduce exposure to outdoor air pollution.
9 %
Would not do any of these.
According to a poll on air quality conducted by Abacus Data for the Canadian Lung Association in January 2021 (sample size of 2,000 adults).
Breathing Easier webinar
Breathing Easier: Air Quality, Climate Change and Lung Health Outcomes in Canada
In June 2021, CLA hosted a webinar on air quality and lung health, featuring:
- Dr. Chris Carlsten, UBC
- Dr. Joe Vipond, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
- David Paterson, GM Canada
- Evan Wiseman, The Atmospheric Fund
- Melanie Langille, NBLung