Session Description
Major projects can affect health through complex and interconnected pathways that extend from environmental and socio-economic indicators. These pathways often include changes to land use, livelihoods, cultural practices, community cohesion, governance, access to resources, and other determinants of health that ultimately affect the wellbeing of communities.
This interactive workshop introduces the beta version of the Pathways of Health Effects Navigator, an interactive virtual tool being developed using a Determinants of Health approach to identify and visualize the direct, indirect, and cumulative health effects of major development projects across 7 industries. The Tool helps practitioners, community members and decision bodies understand how project activities can influence health and well-being across multiple pathways, making visible connections that can be overlooked in traditional IA reporting structures.
Using practical examples and facilitated exercises, participants will map pathways linking project activities to health effects and explore how this can support not just scoping of key health issues, but also mitigation planning & monitoring.
By bringing together participants from different roles in IA (e.g., practitioner, proponent, community member, etc.), the session will encourage discussion & participant feedback on best practices in scoping & mitigating impact in health assessments, & for the integration of health considerations across IAs. Participants will leave with a practical tool for applying pathways-based thinking to strengthen assessments, improve communication of complex effects, & support more holistic & culturally responsive decision-making.
Session Summary
How do project activities translate into health outcomes? This interactive workshop examines pathways linking environmental, social, cultural, and economic effects to changes in health and well-being. Participants will use an online Tool to directly connect project activities to potential health impacts. Bring your laptop!
Additional Information
Workshop participants will be using laptops to use the Pathways of Health Effects Navigator, a virtual Tool.
Session Chair
Faiza Waheed
Intrinsik
Canada