Advancing sustainable development to support Canada’s public health under a changing climate

Abstract

Climate change is an urgent and escalating determinant of health in Canada, with cascading impacts on population health, health systems, and health equity. Despite longstanding recognition of sustainable development as a foundational public health principle, its integration within Canadian public health practice remains limited. This commentary emphasizes that advancing sustainable development is essential to strengthening climate resilience and protecting population health. We highlight how the new Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada: Release 2.0 function as a mechanism for operationalizing sustainable development in public health practice, while recognizing that they are not a panacea for achieving this aim. We identify key challenges, including fragmented governance and limited integration of climate considerations into public health practice. To address these gaps, we call for embedding planetary health and sustainable development as core foundations in public health’s iterative evolution. Central to this transformation is the upskilling of the public health workforce through emerging climate and health competencies, including systems thinking, intersectoral collaboration, climate-informed risk assessment, and equity-centered practice. Post-secondary education and ongoing professional training play a critical role in building this capacity. By embedding sustainable development within public health action, Canada can foster more resilient public health under a changing climate.