CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
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CAPE BC - Canadian Ass'n of Physicians for the Environment BC
@cape-bc.bsky.social
1.3K followers 680 following 120 posts
British Columbia Regional Committee of @cape-acme.bsky.social, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. A physician-directed non-profit working to secure human health by protecting the planet. 🌎🩺
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The planetary health emergency is already here, but so are the opportunities for action.

Join CAPE’s Planetary Health Emergency: The Health Benefits of Climate Action conference on Oct 25. Hear from leading experts & explore how health professionals can drive climate solutions. tinyurl.com/CAPEconf
Image showing a line drawing of the planet earth with a blue sun, on a yellow background. Text reads: "Conference - virtual. Planetary Health Emergency: The Health Benefits of Climate Action. Saturday, October 25, 8am-4pm PT"
October 10, 2025 at 12:45 AM
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Climate change is a health emergency — let’s act like it.
Join UBC EnviroMed and CAPE BC today for the National Day of Action on Planetary Health!
Sign-making, dinner, and inspiring speakers from CAPE & beyond.
Register: forms.gle/DTeV6nw5U65m...
A large group of UBC medical students holding signs related to climate change and environmental health.
October 6, 2025 at 2:55 PM
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🔥 That's not smoke. It’s the plume from LNG Canada flaring in Kitimat, BC. New research shows LNG export facilities flare 3x more gas during start-up than regular operations — a phase can last up to 2 years. But in Canada, regulators don’t account for start-up flaring in environmental assessments.
September 26, 2025 at 9:57 PM
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Connect the Dots between climate and health tomorrow in Vancouver! Join CAPE BC, Sue Big Oil & Frack Free BC for a community picnic on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 5:30pm at Trout Lake Picnic Shelter. www.eventbrite.ca/e/connect-th...
Who: Frack Free BC, Sue Big Oil, and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment What: Connect the Dots community picnic When/Where: Wednesday, September 24 at 6-8 pm at Trout Lake Park (covered picnic shelter) Registration page: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/connect-the-dots-vancouver-tickets-1471437060859/
September 24, 2025 at 12:55 AM
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Learn about the dangers LNG poses to our physical and mental health at this webinar with Dr. Bethany Ricker (CAPE BC co-chair), Dr. Rachel Grimminck (CAPE), Zachary Daly (@cane-aciie.bsky.social), & Emiko Newman (@bcclimateemergency.bsky.social ).
📆 Oct. 1, 7-8pm PST
👉 Register: bit.ly/4mlWXzv
Poster for LNG Unpacked: Climate & Health Implications - October 1, 2025 - 7-8pm PT - Zoom With photos of speakers Dr. Rachel Grimminck and Dr. Bethany Ricker (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment); Zachary Daly, RN (Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment); and Emiko Newman (BC Climate Emergency Campaign)
September 19, 2025 at 10:16 PM
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LNG and fracking are making people sick—causing asthma, pre-term birth, heart attacks, cancers, and even premature death. While industry profits, communities pay the price. It’s time to put health first. Learn more: ProtectHealthfromLNG.ca
An image of Dr. Ulrike Meyer, a Dawson Creek Physician, with the following text: "It's unacceptable that LNG companies profit while our patients living near fracking and LNG infrastructure pay the price: higher rates of asthma, pre-term birth, heart attacks, certain cancers, and premature death." - Dr. Ulrike Meyer, Dawson Creek Physician. ProtectHealthfromLNG.ca
September 17, 2025 at 10:48 PM
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Let’s make Vancouver a city where everyone, regardless of age, income, or ability, can get around safely and breathe more easily. Vision Zero is public health. (5/5)
Safer streets protect public health, safety, and the climate. Take action today: https://vancouver.ca/your-government/contact-council.aspx Slide includes a cartoon image of people walking on a paved pathway, with benches and trees in the background and a city skyline behind that.
July 8, 2025 at 12:17 PM
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Between 2020–2024, over 6,500 people walking or cycling were injured in Vancouver. Nearly 60% of road deaths were pedestrians or cyclists. We can and must do better. (2/5)
A public health crisis on our streets. Between 2020 and 2024, over 3,000 pedestrians and 3,500 cyclists were injured on Vancouver streets, with people walking and biking making up 60% of traffic deaths. Bar graphs showing the increase over these 5 years. Vision Zero policy is health policy.
July 8, 2025 at 12:17 PM
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CAPE BC has submitted a letter to Vancouver City Council in support of Councillor Maloney’s motion to develop a Vision Zero Road Safety Policy and Action Plan. Why? Because safe streets are a public health issue. (1/5)
July 8, 2025 Vancouver City Council City Hall 453 W 12th Ave Vancouver, BC V5Y 1V4 Re: Support for Motion on Developing a Vision Zero Road Safety Policy and Action Plan Dear Mayor Sim and Members of Council, We are writing on behalf of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment - British Columbia (CAPE BC) and its hundreds of physician members across the province to express our support for Councillor Maloney's motion to develop a Vision Zero Road Safety Policy and Action Plan for the City of Vancouver. As physicians committed to protecting health through environmental action, we recognize that road safety is fundamentally a public health issue. The alarming statistics presented in the motion—3,505 cyclists and 3,079 pedestrians injured between 2020 and 2024, with pedestrians and cyclists accounting for 60% of road fatalities—highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to road safety in our city. Safe active transportation infrastructure is essential for promoting healthier lifestyles while simultaneously addressing climate change. Research consistently demonstrates that active transportation provides significant health benefits while reducing environmental impacts. Safe Active Transportation as Preventive Medicine Well-designed active transportation infrastructure not only prevents injury and death but also supports a more physically active population, reducing rates of chronic disease, improving mental health, and cutting healthcare costs. Physical inactivity contributes to higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and several cancers. Studies show that 150 to 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week can reduce the risk of premature death from all causes by 14% to 26%. Yet less than half of adults in Canada achieve the minimum recommended levels of physical activity. Active transportation allows people to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines, making it more sustainable than scheduled exercise programs. A 2017 study following more than 250,000 people across the United Kingdom found that approximately 90% of cycling commuters and 54% of walking commuters met physical activity guidelines through their commutes alone. Physical activity through active transportation improves mental health by enhancing self-esteem, reducing stress, and promoting feelings of happiness and satisfaction. In our practices, we regularly observe the positive mental health impacts of regular physical activity on our patients. There is also clear and growing demand for safe cycling infrastructure. According to CAPE’s 2021 Cycling in Vancouver report, three downtown Vancouver counting systems reported a 40% increase in bicycle traffic between 2011 and 2019, driven by a 28% expansion of the protected cycling network. Environmental Benefits The transportation sector is Vancouver’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for 40% of the city’s total. Encouraging a shift from private vehicles to walking and cycling is essential to achieving Vancouver’s climate goals. Active transportation emits no greenhouse gases and helps reduce traffic-related air pollution, which improves air quality and respiratory health, particularly for children, seniors, and those with chronic illness. CAPE’s 2022 report Mobilizing Evidence: Activating Change on Traffic-Related Air Pollution (TRAP) Health Impacts described a host of other conditions related to TRAP including diabetes, obesity, birth defects, developmental delays, cancer, and more. Replacing short vehicle trips with walking or cycling makes a meaningful difference. In a typical 11-km drive, 90% of emissions occur in the first 1.6 km, before the engine warms up. The benefits of mode shift are twofold: reduced emissions, and lower rates of heart and lung disease due to air pollution exposur… Despite these benefits, safety concerns remain a primary barrier preventing more people from choosing active transportation. Research shows that protected cycling infrastructure significantly increases both safety and ridership. A study in Toronto and Vancouver found that cycle tracks (physically separated bike lanes) were 89% safer than major streets with parked cars and no cycling facilities. The perception of traffic safety is particularly important for encouraging diverse participation in active transportation. In countries with higher cycling rates and separated cycling infrastructure, women cycle at rates similar to men, whereas in Metro Vancouver, only 37% of cyclists are women while 69% of women would like to cycle more. CAPE’s 2021 Cycling in Vancouver report also highlights that reported collisions involving vehicles and people on bikes decreased by 15% and 43% in 2019 and 2020 respectively, compared to the previous four-year average, largely due to an expanded protected bike network and reduced vehicle exposure. Equity Considerations We strongly encourage the City to apply an equity lens when implementing Vision Zero. Research suggests that road safety benefits are not always equitably distributed across communities. Prioritizing investments in neighborhoods that have historically received less infrastructure funding will ensure that all Vancouver residents benefit from safer streets. The motion's emphasis on protecting vulnerable road users aligns with health equity principles. Seniors, who represent close to half of all pedestrian deaths despite making up less than 20% of Vancouver's population, would particularly benefit from Vision Zero implementation. Children's Health and Mobility We are concerned by the trend noted in the motion that more children are being driven to school than ever before, with cycling trips to elementary schools declining from 3,000 in 2017 to 2,000 in 2023. This represents a lost opportunity for children to develop healthy, act… We urge Council to support this motion and commit to the development and implementation of a robust Vision Zero Road Safety Policy and Action Plan that will make Vancouver's streets safe for all users, particularly the most vulnerable. Thank you for your consideration of this important public health issue. Sincerely, Dr. Melissa Lem, MD, CCFP, FCFP, President, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment Dr. Larry Barzelai, MD, CCFP, Chair, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment - BC Committee
July 8, 2025 at 12:17 PM
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LNG is not a climate solution, & @cape-acme.bsky.social doctors are speaking out.

The first tanker has left LNG Canada, but health experts are warning of the real costs: worsening climate impacts, air pollution, & risks to frontline communities.

www.theenergymix.com/canadas-lng-...
The Energy Mix: Canada’s LNG touted and doubted as transition fuel as doctors sound rhetorical alarm. “The departure of this first LNG tanker marks a troubling new chapter in British Columbia’s health story,” family physician and CAPE President Dr. Melissa Lem said in a release. “While industry celebrates, health care professionals are bracing for the consequences of expanded fracking operations. Fracking and LNG production accelerate climate change and release harmful pollutants—including benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and particulate matter linked with asthma, heart disease, birth defects, and childhood leukemia.” Image shows an LNG tanker at the bottom of the page below the text. At the top is smoke laden sky.
July 3, 2025 at 4:04 PM
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'Fairy Creek' opens in theatres today in Vancouver, Victoria, and Nanaimo! Don't miss this incredible, moving, and inspiring film about the power of collective action and the importance of saving what's left. www.cinemapolitica.org/film/fairy-c...
June 6, 2025 at 8:58 PM
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In theatres in Vancouver, Victoria & Nanaimo starting Friday: 'Fairy Creek', a powerful new film capturing the hope, heartbreak & complexity of Canada’s largest act of civil disobedience. A must-see for all who care about forests, justice & the future.
www.cinemapolitica.org/film/fairy-c...
June 3, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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CAPE BC doctors showed up at today’s Vancouver Climate Strike to call out the climate crisis for what it is: a public health emergency. From extreme heat to wildfire smoke, the impacts are already being felt in our clinics and communities. We need climate action now!
Three doctors in white coats stand next to a cargo bike. All three are smiling. Two wear sunglasses. One has his arm slung over a model of the planet Earth.
April 13, 2025 at 9:32 PM
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Join us this Sunday for the Vancouver Climate Strike! Art build starts at noon, rally at 1pm at the Vancouver Art Gallery. CAPE folks will meet beforehand at the corner of Georgia and Howe. Come say hi and march with us for a healthy, livable future. Details:
Poster for the Vancouver Global Climate Strike. Text reads: Sunday, April 13, 2025 Global Climate Strike 1:00pm at Vancouver Art Gallery March and Rally
April 11, 2025 at 6:28 PM
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CAPE’s @drmelissalem.bsky.social will be joining three other BC climate leaders for this important discussion tomorrow evening on BC’s climate goals for the next five years. Don’t miss it—sign up and be part of the conversation! Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Flyer for an event. Text reads: "What should be our BC Climate Movement's Goals for the Next Five Years, 2025-2030? Thursday, February 20th, 6:30pm. Climate Action Provincial Assembly - includes You!" Featured speakers are shown. These are: Lori Goldman, First Things First Okanagan; Tracey Saxby, My Sea to Sky; Dr. Melissa Lem, CAPE; and Jeremy Valeriote, Green Party MLA.
February 19, 2025 at 11:50 PM
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Please join CAPE BC and Doctors For Planetary Health this evening, Jan. 29th, for a presentation & conversation with Dr. David Boyd, environmental lawyer & recent UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment. 7:30pm on Zoom.

Hope to see you there!
us02web.zoom.us/j/8284914021...
A flyer for the event, including a photo of David Boyd. Text reads: Climate Justice and Human Rights. Webinar Wed Jan 29th @ 7:30pm with David Boyd. Recent UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment. Join here on Zoom." With logos below for Doctors for Planetary Health West Coast and CAPE.
January 29, 2025 at 3:51 PM
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Help support environmental health research & get your gas appliances tested for free! 🏡 A McGill research team is studying methane emissions in Metro Vancouver, late Feb/early March. Help by offering your home, office, or spaces like restaurants/schools. Sign up here: forms.office.com/r/LAphKxbWtP
Text reads: McGill (University) Natural Gas Detection Study Participate in a study: get your natural gas appliances tested for free and help us fight climate change How can I join? Do you have any natural gas appliances (stoves, boilers, water heaters, etc.)? Do you live in the Vancouver area? Sign up by scanning the QR code or filling the form in the URL below: http://forms.office.com/r/LAphKxbWtP
January 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM