CLIMATE CHANGE – A CHALLENGE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN EUROPE

Climate change represents a major global challenge, with a range of potential impacts on human health linked to the changing weather patterns, temperatures, more intense and frequent extreme weather events, changes in ecosystems, agriculture, and infrastructure. Climate change can multiply risks and existing health problems; it sets conditions under which health effects may occur, depending on population vulnerability and ability to adapt. In response to this global challenge, both mitigation and adaptation measures are needed. Europe is already experiencing impacts of the changing climate, and some regions are particularly vulnerable. From the public health perspective, adaptation to climate change means protection of a population from adverse health impacts, including effects of extreme temperatures (e.g. heat waves), emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases, as well as allergic diseases linked to the changing pollination seasons