Reports – Failing the Future: Extreme Heat in Schools and Child-Care Settings

Extreme heat events significantly impact the health and well-being of students, teachers, and staff in schools across Canada. The impacts of heat on children are of serious concern given their unique vulnerability. Despite this, there remains no comprehensive federal or provincial law, policy or investment to ensure climate resilience in educational or child care settings.

The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) has published two new reports detailing the impacts of extreme heat on children in child care facilities and schools in Ontario and made 16 recommendations to better protect the health and safety of our kids. Recommendations in the reports include a maximum indoor temperature standard, dedicated funding to retrofit schools and child care facilities without air conditioning or heat pumps, better data on indoor temperatures and the impacts of heat on children, and shade guidelines to cool outdoor spaces.

CELA is releasing these reports in alignment with the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE) Healthy Environments for Learning Day (HELD) 2025 campaign, taking place on Thursday April 24th, 2025. This year the focus of the campaign is on extreme heat in schools and childcare settings in Canada. CELA is a founding partner and long-time supporter of CPCHE.