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Peel doctor leads international publication on outer space tackling climate change and global health

An interesting study published in The Journal of Climate Change and Health offers new insight into
how space can play a major role in tackling climate change and supporting climate action. The World
Health Organization (WHO) called climate change the single biggest health threat facing humanity.
The study and publication led by Dr. Farhan M. Asrar, an award winning Peel physician, and
researcher who says “We are witnessing the increasing impact of climate change, evident in the rising
frequency of extreme weather events like heavy rainfall and flooding, alongside a surge in infectious
disease outbreaks, climate-related natural disasters, and deteriorating air quality around the world”
Dr. Asrar, is Associate Professor with the University of Toronto and Dalla Lana School of Public
Health, Physician Leader with the Trillium Health Partners (THP) and also the Associate Dean of
Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Medicine that will be located in Brampton.

Dr. Asrar’s co-author in this project was a NASA Earth Sciences expert Dr. Helena Chapman.
Dr. Asrar notes “Space has been crucial in tackling climate change, yet many people remain unaware of
its impact. Our publication highlights key examples such the Space for Climate Observatory (SCO)
started in 2019 which aimed at coordinating the work of space agencies and organizations while
addressing climate change. There are over 45 signatories to the SCO charter which includes the
Canadian Space Agency”

“Our research focuses on how space technology, space data and spatial data can further play innovative
roles in addressing climate change and the related global health crises, and in particular taking One
Health into consideration” Dr. Asrar adds “One Health focuses on the connection between humans,
animals and the environment, and that our health is connected to the environment and to the health of
animals”

The research then dwells into certain key areas, Dr. Asrar notes “we focused on 3 key areas where
space can further enhance and take on innovative roles, and these include tackling Air quality and Air
pollution; monitoring,mitigation and prevention of infectious disease outbreaks; and then also address
climate change related natural disasters and extreme weather. Additionally, there are several satellites
which include current and upcoming missions that are monitoring and providing extremely crucial data
related to air quality, monitoring pollutants, and providing essential climate change and environmental
related information related to air, land and sea”

Canada has several satellites that are taking climate change and these include RADARSAT that
monitors the environment, ocean and ice; and also provides support during natural disasters. SCISAT is
monitoring the depletion of the ozone layer and can measure more than 60 atmospheric gases.
This publication also highlights an upcoming space mission, the Atmosphere Observing System
(AOS), which focuses on improving the ability to predict long-term climate conditions. This mission
involves the Canadian Space Agency partnering with NASA and other international space agencies.

When asked about how space can benefit climate action, Dr. Asrar highlighted “There are several ways,
space technology could help and these include monitoring environmental changes, track greenhouse
gas emissions; and monitoring air quality, pollutants and polluters. Space can also be used from a
preventive side by using computer modelling to predict climate impacts, and develop early warning
systems for extreme weather events. Additionally, remote sensing information is also crucial in
monitoring and strengthening climate resilience and clean energy solutions”

In addition to this publication, Dr. Asrar has been championing environmental health and innovative
solutions to climate change for sometime. As part of a national program under the College of Family
Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and Health Canada, Dr. Asrar brought awareness and educated
physicians and the public on critical environmental health issues (Extreme weather, Radon, and Air
Quality, etc.) across various provinces and territories. And as part of the Ontario College of Family
Physicians’ environmental health committee, he had founded an environmental health newsletter that
was distributed to family physicians across Ontario. Dr. Asrar and colleagues also previously
developed a primer to help physicians, and primary care clinics to become more green. Dr. Asrar
emphasizes the importance of each of us, individually, as well as institutions and organizations, doing
our part to be more environmentally and climate-conscious, assess our ecological footprint, and take
action to reduce it.”

Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266727822400083X

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