Heat waves
In Quebec, various adaptation measures are implemented to reduce the impacts of heat waves on the health and comfort of individuals. These include monitoring, preparedness, and response measures.
Other adaptation measures can be put in place to reduce the ambient temperature and the risks associated with heat, such as:
Urban greening
Building and land use planning
Cool islands
Urban greening
Greening is a way of adapting to periods of extreme heat by creating shade and reducing asphalt and concrete surfaces that tend to absorb heat. In particular, this approach has the advantage of reducing the mortality rate on particularly hot days. It includes adding bodies of water (blue spaces), which offer cooling and swimming areas for the population.
However, greening can have undesirable consequences, such as exposure to pollen, increased property values, and the costs associated with establishing green spaces.
Building and land use planning
Modernizing old buildings and long-term care facilities is another measure to adapt to extreme heat. This can mean improving insulation, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as adding greenery to buildings.
This strategy has demonstrated benefits, particularly in terms of improving the comfort and well-being of disadvantaged households and elderly people with limited autonomy.
Land use planning is another strategy for adapting to heat islands and heat waves. This includes the preservation and creation of green or blue spaces, as well as the reduction of surfaces that absorb heat, such as concrete and asphalt.
Cool islands
Cool islands are spaces that help cool the ambient air and/or protect against the sun’s rays. In this way, they help improve quality of life for individuals exposed to extreme heat. They can be parks, shelters, green walls or gardens, for example. They can also take the form of blue spaces, such as swimming pools or water reservoirs.
Regional and government action plans
The Quebec government’s action plan and the municipal intervention plans are effective measures to adapt to extreme heat. It has been shown that these plans can reduce the health effects of heat, especially when measures target people who are isolated or vulnerable. For example, the Montréal region’s heat response plan, the Plan régional de prévention et de protection en cas de chaleur accablante et extrême, implemented in 2019, provides for:
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Awareness-raising campaigns on the right behaviours
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Access to air-conditioned refuges
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Extended opening hours for public swimming pools
View the Plan ministériel de gestion des épisodes de chaleur extrême du Québec.
This plan seems to have helped reduce the excess mortality associated with heat, as well as the gap in heat-related mortality between the most and the least fortunate.
Alerting and monitoring systems
Heat alerts are issued when the temperature reaches or exceeds 30°C or when the humidex reaches 40°C for one hour. These alerts are issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to warn the population of extreme heat that is considered to be dangerous. ECCC also provides the public with the WeatherCAN app, which allows people to receive weather alert notifications, such as heat warnings, directly on their mobile devices.
In 2024, ECCC also established a new system that allows extreme heat events to be attributed to climate change caused by human activities. Within about a week after an extreme heat episode, scientists can determine whether or not global warming influenced the probability or intensity of the episode. This helps people understand the cause and risks of meteorological phenomena and to make informed decisions to stay safe and protect their health.
In Quebec, the Système de surveillance et de prévention des impacts météorologiques extrêmes (SUPREME), run by the INSPQ, issues extreme heat warnings for areas at risk, with alerts established by ECCC. Its purpose is to enable public health workers to trigger the necessary emergency actions.
Individual measures
Individual measures can also be taken by members the public to protect themselves from heat, including opting for air conditioning, improving ventilation, or adjusting behaviours and lifestyles, for example reducing the intensity of physical activities and wearing lighter clothing that’s better suited to the heat.
It’s also recommended to stay hydrated, take regular showers, and spend more time in green, cool, and shaded areas.
Learn more about the various adaptation measures for dealing with heat waves.
Air conditioning
The temperature inside buildings without air conditioning can be 1.5 times higher than outside. Air conditioning is used to improve the comfort of individuals indoors.
It can also help reduce the risks of death and hospitalization among vulnerable populations exposed to heat. That is why air conditioning is an effective measure in the short term.
However, air conditioning can have significant adverse effects over the long term. Exposure to outdoor heat can make people more sensitive due to the contrast with an air-conditioned environment. And poorly maintained air conditioning can promote the proliferation of harmful bacteria and worsen health problems.
To limit its negative effects and maximize its positive impacts, air conditioning can be used in moderation, combined with other measures, such as greening the neighbourhood and using reflective materials.
Adaptation measures for the agricultural sector
Certain recommendations aim to reduce heat stress in farm animals during episodes of extreme heat. These include:
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Adjusting the diet and density of animals kept outside
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Ventilation
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Misting
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Adding shelters, shaded areas and sufficient drinking troughs, especially for outdoor animals
The results of this project enable dairy farm managers to choose forage mixes suitable for the current and future climate conditions. They also provide solutions to reduce the risk of heat stress in barns during hot summer weather.
