Today, EASAC releases a report “The imperative of climate action to protect human health in Europe”. The report highlights an alarming range of health risks due to climate change and the benefits of rapid phase out of fossil fuels.
In this landmark report, the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC) focuses on the consequences of climate change for human health in Europe and the benefits of acting now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to stabilise the climate.
EASAC is the voice of independent science advice, mobilising Europe’s leading scientists from 27 national science academies to guide EU policy for the benefit of society. By considering a large body of independent studies on the effects of climate change on health, and on strategies to address the risks to health, EASAC has identified key messages and drawn important new conclusions. The evidence shows that climate change is adversely affecting human health, and that health risks are projected to increase.
Health risks will increase as climate change intensifies through a range of pathways including:
- Increased exposure to high temperatures and extreme events such as floods and droughts, air pollution and allergens;
- Weakening of food and nutrition security;
- Increased incidence and changing distribution of some infectious diseases (including mosquito-borne, food-borne and water-borne diseases);
- Growing risk of forced migration.
Read more at: www.easac.eu