Grant: Project Grant - PA: Sex and Gender in Health Research (Bridge funding)

Climate change is worsening health and well-being. Climate change affects health in a number of different ways, but two key exposures are climate events and air pollution. Extreme temperatures, other weather events like flooding, and wildfires have been linked to the development and worsening of heart and respiratory conditions, mental health, and injuries. The effects of climate change are often compounded by social and other factors. People who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ face marginalization, exclusion, discrimination, and stigma, which creates situations of heightened vulnerability to climate change. Yet, very little research so far has focused on the climate change and health risks, needs, and experiences of people who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, which is a critical gap in our knowledge. This pilot study aims to investigate: (1) the perceptions and experiences of climate change of people self-identifying as members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community related to health and well-being in Alberta, (2) health events linked to weather events and air pollution exposures among people in Alberta self-identifying as members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and (3) factors that mediate relationships between weather, air pollution exposure and health in people self-identifying as members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community across Alberta. A variety of data collection and analysis approaches will be used. An 2SLGBTQIA+ advisory group will be formed to help guide, inform, interpret, and distribute this research. Our goals are to report on unique climate change and health risks, identify areas of intervention, highlight outstanding research needs, and share the overlooked perspectives of people in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Alberta.