Jasper school officials push for better climate emergency planning

As students in Jasper prepare to return after devastating wildfires, experts stress that schools nationwide need better climate crisis response plans.

Jessica Wong reports for CBC.

In short:

• Jasper’s schools will reopen on Sept. 17, weeks later than scheduled, after extensive efforts to clean and restore facilities damaged by wildfires.
• Experts warn that with the growing frequency of extreme weather events, schools must implement long-term air quality monitoring and mental health support for students and staff.
• Calls are growing for provincial and federal funding to create standardized emergency plans for schools facing climate-related disasters.

Key quote:

"There's even more evidence implicating air quality in such things as cancer, and so it's really important that we recognize that — not just for the kids, but for the teachers that might be exposed to these conditions long term."

— Dr. Joe Vipond, past president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

Why this matters:

As climate change drives more extreme weather, schools must prepare to protect students' physical and mental health during and after these events. Without proactive planning, the risks to children’s well-being will only increase.

Related: Wildfire devastation hits Jasper, Alberta