New policy brief calls for equity-centred climate emergency planning to protect perinatal health

As climate emergencies intensify, the health needs of pregnant and postpartum individuals and young children remain an overlooked consideration in emergency planning. A new policy brief from the Waterloo Climate Institute, led by Kyla Wright and Prof. Hannah Neufeld, highlights how climate hazards and structural discrimination intersect to create disproportionate health risks for Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and gender-diverse individuals. It outlines equity-centred policy actions to address these gaps, strengthen community and health system resilience and advance climate justice.