Publications

European Climate Risk Assessment: Storyline on Infectious diseases – Chapter 14

Shouro Dasgupta et al.
EEA Report 01/2024
Chapter 14

On a global scale, one of the biggest threats to human health from climate change is the increase in climate-sensitive infectious diseases, driven by rising temperatures, droughts and water scarcity, torrential rains, floods and warming oceans, among other factors. 58% of infectious diseases confronted by humanity worldwide have at some point been aggravated by climate hazards. The impacts on Europe to date have been limited, but there is growing evidence that vector-borne, foodborne and waterborne diseases will increase in the coming decades.

European Climate Risk Assessment: Factsheet on Human Health – Chapter 7

Shouro Dasgupta et al.
EEA Report 01/2024
Chapter 7

Climate change-related warming and more frequent and intense extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, storms, floods and droughts, are already putting the health of the European population at increasing risk.

European Climate Risk Assessment: Food production and food security – chapter 6

Frank Dentener et al.
EEA Report 01/2024
Chapter 6

Food production in Europe is intricately influenced by numerous climatic and non climatic factors, including droughts, heatwaves, biodiversity loss and socio-economic dynamics (Bednar-Friedl et al., 2022; Bezner Kerr et al., 2022). Climate change reshapes the conditions suitable for crop production, intensifies risks for weather-related crop/food losses, causes the introduction and establishment of new plant pests, increases the physical and biological risks to animal production systems and shifts the food web and species abundances relevant for fisheries.

Field evaluation of an automated mosquito surveillance system which classifies Aedes and Culex mosquitoes by genus and sex

Field evaluation of an automated mosquito surveillance system which classifies Aedes and Culex mosquitoes by genus and sex
González-Pérez MI et al. – Parasit Vectors. 2024 Mar 1;17(1):97

Mosquito-borne diseases are a major concern for public and veterinary health authorities, highlighting the importance of effective vector surveillance and control programs. Traditional surveillance methods are labor-intensive and do not provide high temporal resolution, which may hinder a full assessment of the risk of mosquito-borne pathogen transmission. Emerging technologies for automated remote mosquito monitoring have the potential to address these limitations; however, few studies have tested the performance of such systems in the field.

DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06177

The effect of temporal data aggregation to assess the impact of changing temperatures in Europe: an epidemiological modelling study

Joan Ballester et al. – Lancet Regional Health Europe
This paper highlights the use of weekly and monthly data as a viable alternative to daily health records in estimating temperature-related mortality, particularly when access to daily data is restricted. The findings show that while weekly models slightly underestimate cold and heat-related deaths, especially during extreme events, they still provide reliable estimates and can be useful for research and policy-making.

DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100779

The 2023 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: the imperative for a health-centred response in a world facing irreversible harms

Marina Romanello et al. – The Lancet

The Lancet Countdown is an international research collaboration that independently monitors the evolving impacts of climate change on health, and the emerging health opportunities of climate action. In its eighth iteration, this 2023 report draws on the expertise of 114 scientists and health practitioners from 52 research institutions and UN agencies worldwide to provide its most comprehensive assessment yet.

DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01859-7

Inequality and growth impacts of climate change—insights from South Africa

Shouro Dasgupta, Johannes Emmerling, Soheil Shayegh – Environmental Research Letters

This article examines the effects of climate change on economic inequality and growth in South Africa. It highlights the uneven burden climate change places on vulnerable populations and suggests how policy interventions can mitigate these impacts to promote equitable and sustainable growth.

DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad0448

Adult Aedes albopictus in winter: implications for mosquito surveillance in southern Europe

Daniela Sofie Lührsen et al. – The Lancet Planetary Health

The article highlights the spread of Aedes albopictus in Europe and its increased public health risk as a vector for diseases like dengue and Zika, exacerbated by climate change.

DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(23)00170-5

Understanding the climate change impact on health

Peter Hoffmann et al.
Open Access Government July 2023, pp.456-457

Scientists at the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS) help society to prepare for climate change impacts on health in a multi-faceted approach
Health becomes a pressing topic since the pandemic, while climate change and other crisis continue to rise. Therefore, it is important to look at the different impacts in climate change and health for the vulnerable groups.

DOI: 10.56367/OAG-039-9508

Approaching unsafe limits: climate-related health inequities within and beyond Europe

Kim R. van Daalen et al. – The Lancet Regional Health. Europe, Vol 31, Iss , Pp 100683- (2023)

The article from The Lancet Regional Health – Europe presents a new framework to tackle climate-sensitive infectious diseases in Europe. It emphasizes the need for decision-support tools and policy-relevant indicators to track and respond to climate-induced health risks. The framework, developed under the IDAlert project, integrates a One Health approach, connecting human, animal, and environmental health for better disease monitoring, resilience, and preparedness across sectors.

DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100683