The kids say “just do it”: collective action for planetary health

Dr. Emily Newhouse and Darryl Quantz have always been interested in the intersection of science and social forces. It’s what drives their planetary health work and commitment to local and global community well-being.

In this episode, they discuss how access to education, food, the natural environment and health care is less available to communities most impacted by the climate crisis and how ‘once in a generation’ language can no longer by used when describing extreme weather-related events.

The solution? Listen to the kids!

Both Darryl and Emily believe the flexibility, adaptability, courage and commitment shown by young climate activists can spur others to believe in and support a climate resilient planet.

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Guest bio

Dr. Emily Newhouse is a medical health officer in Population and Public Health where she is the regional lead for environmental health services, community care licensing, drinking water services and injury prevention. Dr. Newhouse and her team work with local governments and community partners to help them prepare for extreme weather events – which can include everything from extreme heat or cold to storms, floods and wildfire.

Darryl Quantz is a planetary health lead with Fraser Health. He has been instrumental in the development of the health authority’s Planetary Health strategy and has helped to lead and coordinate several climate and planetary health-related projects, such as advancing Fraser Health’s status as an anchor institution and working to reduce the impact of inhaler therapy in the Fraser Health region.

Learn more

Fraser Health Planetary Health strategy: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/planetaryhealth

Working to reduce the impact of inhaler therapy in the Fraser Health region: https://ow.ly/AiWS50QAqxc

About The Heart of It

Every episode, Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of Fraser Health, invites guests take listeners to the heart of health care, where passion, dedication and innovation drive individual, community and planetary health.

Listen and watch more episodes of The Heart of It here. And be sure to subscribe to The Heart of It in your favourite podcast player app so that you don’t miss a beat.

The Heart of It is recorded on the traditional, ancestral and unceded shared territories of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Coquitlam, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen