To understand how climate change is affecting health in our city, Toronto Public Health (TPH) monitors multiple data sources, which are brought together in the Public Health Impacts of Climate Change in Toronto dashboard. This dashboard visualizes key public health and environmental health surveillance indicators, highlighting trends that reflect longer‑term climate‑related health impacts.
Climate change can worsen existing socio-economic vulnerabilities and inequities, disproportionately affecting populations already facing challenges. Monitoring, preparing for and working with partners to assess impacts of climate change is a key action in the Strategic Plan 2024-2028 and a requirement of the Ontario Public Health Standards.
TPH is committed to providing the city-level data in this dashboard. It will be updated annually and where possible will include up to 10 years of historical data. Due to data availability and reporting timelines, data will include a reporting lag.
The dashboard is designed to:
The Public Health Impacts of Climate Change in Toronto dashboard shares climate change relevant human health indicators, vulnerability and social capacity assessments, and select exposure indicators. These indicators help TPH track how climate change is affecting population health and support evidence-informed decision-making.
The dashboard is designed for long‑term surveillance. Information provided here will help decision‑makers understand what is happening in the community so they can set priorities and take longer-term actions that meet people’s health needs. Immediate or urgent environmental risks are monitored through other timely tools such as heat‑related illness reports and weekly mosquito pool summaries.
TPH will develop the dashboard over three phases, based on data availability. Phase 1, released in 2026, will share information on indicators with more readily available information.
Phases 2 and 3 include topics that require validation of potential indicators and data sources through further collaborations. These would include working with academic, research and other government partners who own the data or have expertise to develop specific indicators.
TPH is exploring opportunities to identify and acquire complementary qualitative information that captures the experience of equity deserving groups living with and adapting to the impacts of climate change on their health.
TPH’s approach to developing its first public health and climate change monitoring dashboard was informed through a framework to capture the inter-relationships of human health, vulnerability and exposure to environment. The surveillance framework is grounded in evidence, tailored to local needs informed through consultations, lessons learned and best practices from partners.
Consultations on the framework and indicators were held with other City of Toronto divisions, several Ontario public health agencies, and local academic researchers.
The framework and indicators were adopted by the City of Toronto Board of Health in July 2025.