Wednesday, September 9, 2009

[EQ] Protecting health in Europe from climate change

Protecting health in Europe from climate change


Edited by Bettina Menne, Franklin Apfel, Sari Kovats and Francesca Racioppi

2008, 51 pages ISBN 978 92 890 7187 1

WHO World Health Organization -Regional Office for Europe

Available online as PDF [54p.] at: http://www.euro.who.int/Document/E91865.pdf

 

“…..There is now scientific consensus that climate change affects health through changing weather patterns (for example, more intense and frequent extreme events) and indirectly through changes in water, air, food quality and quantity, ecosystems, agriculture, livelihoods and infrastructure.

 

The effects will be unevenly distributed, and the people at greatest risk include the poor, very young, elderly and/or ill. Climate change can also pose a threat to health security. Failure to respond could be very costly in terms of disease, health care expenditure and lost productivity.

 

This publication intends to stimulate debate and support an active response by providing up-to-date information on the health effects of climate change, as well as practical guidance on specific actions that decision-makers at different levels in health and other sectors can take now.

 

As long as climate change is not too rapid or strong, many of the health effects can be controlled by strengthening health systems. This can include strengthening preparedness, public health services and health security, advocating action in other sectors to benefit health, better informing citizens and leading by example.

 

Health systems need to strengthen their capacity to assess potential climate-related health effects, to review their capacities to cope, and develop and implement adaptation and mitigation strategies, and to strengthen a range of key areas of work – from disease surveillance and control to disaster risk reduction – that are essential for rapid detection of and action against climate-related risks…..…”

Content:

Introduction

The potential health effects of climate change in the WHO

Climate change in the WHO European Region

Drivers of climate change in the WHO European Region

Reducing health effects from heat and heat-waves

Reducing health effects from cold weather and cold waves

Reducing health effects from floods

Protecting nutrition and food safety in a changing climate

Anticipating changes in vector-borne diseases

Reducing the risk of waterborne diseases

Reducing respiratory diseases

Populations most at risk

Reducing health inequalities in relation to climate change

What health systems can do to prepare for climate change

Strengthening health security

Advocating health with other sectors

An example of intersectoral action: healthier communities in a changing climate

Building capacity in the health workforce

Strengthening health-system intelligence

Setting the example by “greening” health services

Partnership to protect health from climate change

Conclusions

Reference

 



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