from region to region. to region from the summer months as a result of climate change. climate of result a as months summer the

an increase in outdoor activity. The net effect is still not clear and it is likely to vary to likely is it and clear not still is effect net The activity. outdoor in increase an London could become seriously overheated during overheated seriously become could London

clear positive benefit, like the reduction in excess winter deaths, or the health benefits of benefits health the or deaths, winter excess in reduction the like benefit, positive clear

summer temperatures.The existing building stock in stock building existing temperatures.The summer

As can been seen from these lists, not all of the effects are negative. Many will have a have will Many negative. are effects the of all not lists, these from seen been can As

discomfort is predicted to increase with higher with increase to predicted is discomfort

cuat,a ela hi rdciiy Indoor productivity. their as well as occupants, Increased levels of asthma as a result of greater amounts of pollen in the air the in pollen of amounts greater of result a as asthma of levels Increased „

affects the health and general well being of being well general and health the affects

Rise in ozone related breathing difficulties breathing related ozone in Rise „

The comfort level in buildings is also important, as it as important, also is buildings in level comfort The

Increased number of food poisoning cases due to higher summer temperatures summer higher to due cases poisoning food of number Increased „

Malaria may become re-established by 2050 by re-established become may Malaria „ is likely to increase in our major cities. major our in increase to likely is

the surrounding countryside. This is a problem that problem a is This countryside. surrounding the

Rise in the number of deaths and injuries resulting from storms and gales and storms from resulting injuries and deaths of number the in Rise „

temperatures are likely to remain much higher than higher much remain to likely are temperatures

in the frequency and magnitude of flooding events, in particular flash floods flash particular in events, flooding of magnitude and frequency the in

particularly stressful at night, when the ambient air ambient the when night, at stressful particularly

Increase in physical and mental health problems associated with an increase increase an with associated problems health mental and physical in Increase „

The build up of heat in urban areas can be can areas urban in heat of up build The

an increase in outdoor activities outdoor in increase an

Increase in skin and related cancers as a result of greater exposure to UV from from UV to exposure greater of result a as cancers related and skin in Increase „

jeopardizes health. jeopardizes

How could climate change have a negative affect on our health? our on affect negative a have change climate could How

pollutants, smog can result which further which result can smog pollutants,

temperature is combined with high levels of air of levels high with combined is temperature

in Central Europe Central in

temperature is forced up. If this increased this If up. forced is temperature

Reduction in the number of areas affected by Tick Borne Encephalitis Borne Tick by affected areas of number the in Reduction „

buildings and other hard surfaces, the ambient the surfaces, hard other and buildings

is likely to benefit public health public benefit to likely is

heat. When the urban landscape is dominated by dominated is landscape urban the When heat.

Encouraging people to cycle and walk, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases greenhouse of emissions reduce to walk, and cycle to people Encouraging „

in large urban areas, absorbing and then re-radiating then and absorbing areas, urban large in

Increase in outdoor activities and active lifestyles with associated health benefits health associated with lifestyles active and activities outdoor in Increase „ The Heat island effect is in part caused by pavements, rooftops and other dark surfaces dark other and rooftops pavements, by caused part in is effect island Heat The

Reduction in excess winter deaths as the climate becomes milder becomes climate the as deaths winter excess in Reduction „

Europe in 2003. in Europe

How could climate change have a positive affect on our health? our on affect positive a have change climate could How

could further exacerbate instances of excess summer deaths as witnessed throughout witnessed as deaths summer excess of instances exacerbate further could

ihrta h urudn onrsd sarsl fteha sadefc.This effect. island heat the of result a as countryside surrounding the than higher C as 6 as

o

to help to stimulate a debate about what local actions need to be taken. be to need actions local what about debate a stimulate to help to Heat waves take their greatest toll in cities and urban centres where it can be as much as be can it where centres urban and cities in toll greatest their take waves Heat

both positive and negative. It is not intended to be comprehensive but rather but comprehensive be to intended not is It negative. and positive both

This pamphlet will describe some of the main health effects of climate change, climate of effects health main the of some describe will pamphlet This

members of society, the elderly, the very young or the chronically ill. chronically the or young very the elderly, the society, of members

It is perhaps not surprising in both examples that the victims were the most vulnerable most the were victims the that examples both in surprising not perhaps is It

rates attributable to climate change to increase several fold by 2050. by fold several increase to change climate to attributable rates

predicting the annual excess of summertime mortality summertime of excess annual the predicting

and Wales and by15.4% in . Greater in by15.4% and Wales and

extreme weather such as heat waves, and experts are experts and waves, heat as such weather extreme

During the 1976 in the UK, the mortality rates increased by 9.7% in England in 9.7% by increased rates mortality the UK, the in wave heat 1976 the During

Climate change is likely to increase the frequency of frequency the increase to likely is change Climate

around 2100 and the UK over 2,000. over UK the and 2100 around

attributed to extreme weather events. weather extreme to attributed

ek.Fac a o ln nrprigecs ets-Iayrpre 14 Portugal 3134, reported Italy - deaths excess reporting in alone not was weeks.

headlines, and there have been many injuries & deaths & injuries many been have there and headlines,

C and remained unusually high for several for high unusually remained and C temperatures in France soared to over 40 over to soared France in temperatures

o

various parts of Europe have all appeared in the in appeared all have Europe of parts various

more than 14,800 lives in France alone. In the worst heat wave for decades for wave heat worst the In alone. France in lives 14,800 than more

decade. Summer heat waves and extreme floods in floods extreme and waves heat Summer decade.

years was the unprecedented heat wave in 2003. This was estimated to have claimed have to estimated was This 2003. in wave heat unprecedented the was years

increasingly been featured in the news over the last the over news the in featured been increasingly

The most striking weather event in Europe to capture the news headlines in the last few last the in headlines news the capture to Europe in event weather striking most The The effects of climate change on our health have health our on change climate of effects The

Heat Waves Heat Effects of Climate Change on Health on Change Climate of Effects

Espace Partners Contacts:

Hampshire County Council - Lead Partner (UK) Environment Agency (UK) This topic paper has Regionaal Landschap Zenne, Zuun en Zoniën () been produced by South East Climate Change Partnership (UK) Surrey County Council South East England Regional Assembly (UK) as part of the ESPACE Surrey County Council (UK) project Waterschap Rivierenland (Netherlands) West County Council (UK) Ministerie van VROM (Netherlands) For more information Bayerisches Landesamt für Wasserwirtschaft (Germany) on the ESPACE project visit: Effects of Climate Change on Health www.espace-project.org European Spatial Planning: Adapting to Climate Events For enquiries on this topic paper contact:

Gary Black Sustainable Development County Hall Kingston upon Thames Surrey KT1 2DY

Tel: +44 (0)20 8541 9858 Email:[email protected]

The ESPACE Project: 2003-2007

Funded by the INTERREG IIIB North West Europe Programme & the UK Office of the Deputy Prime Minister www.espace-project.org Excess Winter Deaths The resulting disruption to infrastructure during and after a flood can also have Certain countries in the EU, notably the UK, suffer from excess winter deaths. Recent indirect health effects. At the time of studies in Europe and Russia have shown that the UK and Greece, which both have greatest need hospitals may be affected. relatively mild winters, have a greater number of winter related deaths than countries that Rates of infectious diseases may increase experience colder winters. The lack of adequate heating in homes and wearing of less due to a reduction in quality sanitation due effective clothing for cold weather is believed to be a major factor. These excess winter to damaged sewerage systems or deaths are expected to decrease as winters become warmer. overcrowding in emergency accommodation. Extreme Storms As with heat waves, the effects of flooding can be particularly devastating to vulnerable Extreme weather events represent a members of the population such as the elderly, disabled and young children. The planning particular and acute threat to health. The system needs to ensure that there is adequate account taken of the location of schools, predicted increase in storminess will result hospitals and other social or care institutions. It is also important to ensure that in a greater potential for injury from wind emergency response resources are situated out of flood prone areas. gusts. Air Pollution Most casualties occur outside of buildings through the collapse or displacement of There is expected to be a reduction of up to a 50% in the adverse health effects of winter constituent parts of a building - air pollution. This is due to a combination of different atmospheric conditions and a chimneystacks and pots, breaking windows, reduction in the emissions of key pollutants. falling walls and roof tiles. There is however expected to be a small increase in the number of high ozone days in the Falling trees represent a very great danger to both vehicles and pedestrians, and can also summer, as well as a significant long term increase in background levels of ozone. Ozone be a danger to building occupants. In the great storm of 1987 in South East England falling and other air pollutants have considerable impact on health; these pollutants are trees were the most important category of accident associated with deaths. considered to be one of the most significant environmental health problems in Europe.

Windstorms such as the one experienced in Other Health Risks 1999 are also expected to become more prevalent. Northwest Europe was battered Recent research indicates that there will be a significant just after Christmas of 1999 by two increase in the number of dust mites as a result of a depressions of unprecedented intensity, warmer climate. The research suggested that a typical developing within 36 hours of each other. London bed of the 2050s could have up to 80 times the These tore through Southern England, number of mites living in it. This can have a significant France,Southern Germany,Northern Italy & health effect as Dust mites play a major role in certain as well as Switzerland and Austria. The allergy diseases, especially asthma and eczema. The storms caused over 140 casualties, 88 of number of people affected by these conditions is which were in France. The damage that currently rising throughout Europe. these storms caused is estimated to have cost in the region of £10 billion. Levels of UV radiation reaching the earth's surface may increase due to sunnier summers, a decline in cloud cover About 60% of deaths during windstorms and stratospheric ozone depletion, combined with an occur on road or rail. Cars, lorries, increase in the level of outdoor activity,increasing peoples motorbikes and bicycles can all be blown off UV exposure, this is likely to produce an increase in the course causing accidents. In very extreme incidence of skin cancer and cataracts. storms, people can literally be blown off their feet hitting immovable objects or into Localised outbreaks of malaria are more likely to occur due to climate change. However, the traffic. in Northern and Western Europe existing public health resources and a lack of breeding habitats necessary to sustain high densities of mosquitoes makes the re-emergence of malaria unlikely. The recent resurgence of malaria in Eastern Europe is due to the Flooding deterioration of health systems and climate change could increase the risks. In southern Europe, climate change would increase the current very small risk. Climate change models suggest that it is likely that there will be increased autumn and winter rainfall and a higher incidence of intense summer storms. This will result in more While not anticipated to be a direct effect in Europe, worldwide there is a major run-off and problems of flash flooding. Flash flooding is more likely to be life threatening, implication for food supplies. 5.5 billion people live in areas predicted to experience large than river or storm surges as these are easier to track so that advanced warning can be losses in food production and 3 billion people will have an increased risk of water given. However, flooding can have a range of health effects, beyond the obvious risks of shortage. This is likely to have major health implications for the developing countries. injury and drowning. Incidences of food poisoning are also expected to increase due to increased summer The vulnerability of buildings and their occupants to flooding depends primarily on the temperatures. In the UK alone it is predicated that the number of cases could increase height of the floodwater in relation to the floor level of the dwelling. Owners of single by 10,000 a year. story buildings are much more likely to suffer injury or death because they cannot escape to upper floors. Conclusion

With the increase in the number of Climate change will increasingly present risks to people, property and natural resources, predicted flooding events there is expected but will also create new business and lifestyle opportunities. Careful planning and to be an increase in the number of people adaptation to different conditions will be required. suffering health effects. Flooding can have both long and short-term as well as direct & There are important lessons to be indirect effects on the population's health. learned, as man does not live in These include increased exposure to the isolation. Populations of all animal secondary health effects of poisoning, species, including humans, depend for infectious diseases, post traumatic stress life and health on the life supporting disorders, disruption of hygienic water services of the biosphere. The earth’s supply, sanitation problems and food climate system is fundamental to this supplies. There is also the more general life support. Evidence suggests that stress and mental health related problems associated with these disasters. In the UK flood man is already having a effect on the at Boscastle in 2004, although no one was killed or seriously injured, 100 people had to be balance of the earths environment and airlifted to safety and many homes and businesses were destroyed in a matter of minutes. actions taken today will have a long The destruction of property and livelihood for the inhabitants is likely to impact on their term effect not just for us and our mental well being. children but also for future generations.