The EU’s key goal of being climate neutral by 2050 will deliver direct and near-term health benefitssuch as switching to clean energy sources and to a decarbonised economy. However, even if we stopped all greenhouse gas emissions today, climate change would still continue to happen and accelerate throughout this century. Robust projections indicate increasingly negative effects on our health and significant strains on our health systems caused by growing heat stress, emerging infectious disease threats, food and water safety and security problems, the rise of new allergens, mental health effects, and wildfire and flood risks. 

While many solutions are within reach and a much can be done to reduce risks. The economic benefits of actions addressing the prospective health effects of climate change are likely to be substantial too. However, more effort is needed to gather, share and spread knowledge about cost-effective and customisable adaptation solutions.

Launched in March 2021, the European Climate and Health Observatory is a partnership between the European Commission, European Environment Agency and other EU agencies, programmes and European institutions. The portal managed by the EEA allows policy- and decision-makers to visualise climate change-related health risks, and it helps them to take action and respond to these risks. The European Climate and Health Observatory aims to support Europe in preparing for and adapting to the impacts of climate change on human health by providing access to relevant information and tools. It also fosters information exchange and cooperation between relevant international, European, national and non-governmental actors.ù

The Observatory’s work in 2021 and 2022 concentrated on compiling the evidence of various impacts of climate change on human health (e.g. mental health); understanding the policy base in the European countries; and developing a report focussed on two major climate related health risks:

• Climate-sensitive infectious disease threats (such as those posed by vector-borne and water-borne diseases). This links the work of the Observatory to the development of the European Health Union, the European Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA), and the work of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) with support of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
• Heat stress (leading to death, ill health and reduced work capacity; and exacerbated by air pollution and the projected increase of pollen and other allergens). This links the Observatory to the ongoing work  of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Copernicus Climate Change Service and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, and the JRC.

Drawing on knowledge developed for the European Climate and Health Observatory, the report “Climate change as a threat to health and well-being in Europe: focus on heat and infectious diseases” was published in November this year. It focuses on the impact high temperatures are having on the population, as well as on another emerging threat: the spread of climate-sensitive infectious diseases.

The European Climate and Health Observatory intends to publish similar reports on different aspects of climate change and health in Europe annually in cooperation between the EEA and other Observatory partners.

Link: https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/observatory/About/about-the-observatory/