www.espace-project.org Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Prime Deputy the of Office West Europe Programme & the UK the & Programme Europe West Funded by the INTERREG IIIB North IIIB INTERREG the by Funded h SAEPoet 2003-2007 Project: ESPACE The [email protected] Email: +44 (0)20 8541 9858 8541 (0)20 +44 Tel: Surrey KT1 2DY KT1 Surrey Kingston upon Thames upon Kingston County Hall County Sustainable Development Sustainable Gary Black Gary topic paper contact: paper topic For enquiries on this on enquiries For European Spatial Planning: Adapting to Climate Events Climate to Adapting Planning: Spatial European www.espace-project.org Effects of Climate Change on Health on Change Climate of Effects visit: on the ESPACE project ESPACE the on Bayerisches Landesamt für Wasserwirtschaft (Germany) Wasserwirtschaft für Landesamt Bayerisches Ministerie van VROM (Netherlands) VROM van Ministerie For more information more For West Sussex County Council (UK) Council County Sussex West Waterschap Rivierenland (Netherlands) Rivierenland Waterschap project Surrey County Council (UK) Council County Surrey as part of the ESPACE the of part as South East England Regional Assembly (UK) Assembly Regional England East South Surrey County Council County Surrey South East Climate Change Partnership (UK) Partnership Change Climate East South Regionaal Landschap Zenne, Zuun en Zoniën (Belgium) Zoniën en Zuun Zenne, Landschap Regionaal been produced by produced been Environment Agency (UK) Agency Environment This topic paper has paper topic This Hampshire County Council - Lead Partner (UK) Partner Lead - Council County Hampshire Contacts: Espace Partners Espace Effects of Climate Change on Health Heat Waves The effects of climate change on our health have The most striking weather event in Europe to capture the news headlines in the last few increasingly been featured in the news over the last years was the unprecedented heat wave in 2003. This was estimated to have claimed decade. Summer heat waves and extreme floods in more than 14,800 lives in France alone. In the worst heat wave for decades various parts of Europe have all appeared in the temperatures in France soared to over 40oC and remained unusually high for several headlines, and there have been many injuries & deaths attributed to extreme weather events. weeks. France was not alone in reporting excess deaths - Italy reported 3134, Portugal around 2100 and the UK over 2,000. Climate change is likely to increase the frequency of During the 1976 heat wave in the UK, the mortality rates increased by 9.7% in England extreme weather such as heat waves, and experts are and Wales and by15.4% in Greater London. predicting the annual excess of summertime mortality rates attributable to climate change to increase several fold by 2050. It is perhaps not surprising in both examples that the victims were the most vulnerable This pamphlet will describe some of the main health effects of climate change, members of society, the elderly, the very young or the chronically ill. both positive and negative. It is not intended to be comprehensive but rather to help to stimulate a debate about what local actions need to be taken. Heat waves take their greatest toll in cities and urban centres where it can be as much as 6oC higher than the surrounding countryside as a result of the heat island effect. This could further exacerbate instances of excess summer deaths as witnessed throughout How could climate change have a positive affect on our health? Europe in 2003. Reduction in excess winter deaths as the climate becomes milder Increase in outdoor activities and active lifestyles with associated health benefits The Heat island effect is in part caused by pavements, rooftops and other dark surfaces in large urban areas, absorbing and then re-radiating Encouraging people to cycle and walk, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases is likely to benefit public health heat. When the urban landscape is dominated by buildings and other hard surfaces, the ambient Reduction in the number of areas affected by Tick Borne Encephalitis in Central Europe temperature is forced up. If this increased temperature is combined with high levels of air How could climate change have a negative affect on our health? pollutants, smog can result which further jeopardizes health. Increase in skin and related cancers as a result of greater exposure to UV from an increase in outdoor activities The build up of heat in urban areas can be Increase in physical and mental health problems associated with an increase particularly stressful at night, when the ambient air in the frequency and magnitude of flooding events, in particular flash floods temperatures are likely to remain much higher than Rise in the number of deaths and injuries resulting from storms and gales the surrounding countryside. This is a problem that Malaria may become re-established by 2050 is likely to increase in our major cities. Increased number of food poisoning cases due to higher summer temperatures The comfort level in buildings is also important, as it Rise in ozone related breathing difficulties affects the health and general well being of Increased levels of asthma as a result of greater amounts of pollen in the air occupants, as well as their productivity. Indoor discomfort is predicted to increase with higher As can been seen from these lists, not all of the effects are negative. Many will have a clear positive benefit, like the reduction in excess winter deaths, or the health benefits of summer temperatures.The existing building stock in an increase in outdoor activity. The net effect is still not clear and it is likely to vary London could become seriously overheated during from region to region. the summer months as a result of climate change. 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 Spain 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.