Library

This analytical report examines recent threats to health security in the WHO European Region from communicable diseases, natural disasters, large-scale accidents, conflicts and complex emergencies and the potential future challenges from climate change. It reviews the lessons learned from past experience, the new framework offered by the revised International Health Regulations (2005), the need for strengthening health systems to manage crises and the importance of international partnerships for health security.

This technical document, a result of collaboration between WHO/Europe and the Italian Agency for Environmental Protection and Technical Services (APAT), is a preliminary evaluation of the Italian situation based on international and national literature and benefitting from expert advices. By assessing the potential risks of climate change to human health in Italy, it seeks to identify available adaptive and preventive measures and to suggest additional ones.

This technical document draws decision-makers’ attention to convincing evidence of climate-related health threats and to why and how they should be urgently addressed. It describes current and projected health effects and the challenges they present to health systems in the European Region, as well as practical guidance on action by individuals and countries.

This technical document underlines, through about 40 indicators, the consequences of observed and projected climatic changes, including an increased risk of floods and droughts, losses of biodiversity (marine, freshwater and terrestrial), adverse effects on human health, and damage to economic sectors.

This technical document introduces EuroHEAT, a project co-funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Consumers, aimed to improve public health responses to weather extremes and to heat-waves in particular. There is growing evidence from EuroHEAT that the effects of heat-wave days on mortality are greater, particularly among the elderly, when levels of ozone or particulate matter are high. A wide range of chronic diseases and medical treatments, social isolation and some types of occupation increase the risk of heat stress in individuals.

This technical document defines a framework for analysing and addressing the health sector’s climate footprint – including identifying seven aspects of a climate-friendly hospital. It also draws on a series of examples from around the world that demonstrate that the health sector is indeed already beginning to provide leadership in this most important area of concern to the global community.

This technical document presents the climate change and health research priorities identified by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in a recent resolution. It emphasizes that research on climate change and health must be placed more firmly within the overall context of improving global health, and health equity, rather than being considered as a stand-alone issue. Most of the health impacts of climate change arise as a result of the extension or amplification of existing health hazards.

This policy document is a summary of the book Climate Change and Human Health – Risks and Responses, published by WHO in collaboration with UNEP and WMO. The complete volume seeks to describe the context and process of global climate change, its actual or likely impacts on health, and how human societies and their governments should respond, with particular focus on the health sector.

This policy document presents the WHO workplan for Climate and Health, approved by World Health Assembly in November 2008. The workplan is a framework for action by the Secretariat, taking into account climates, cultures, socioeconomic development, health systems, health status and vulnerability across Member States. It was prepared through a consultative process, building on regional committee resolutions and regional frameworks for action, and further incorporating suggestions from Member States.

This activity report summarizes the main outcomes of the inter-regional workshop on the Human Health Impacts from Climate Variability and Climate Change in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya Region (India 2005). The objectives of the workshop were: to inform government organizations, nongovernmental organizations and other relevant stakeholders about the impacts of climate change; to Identify specific human health risks linked to climate variability and change in the Himalayan mountain regions; to propose strategies for integrating health with relevant sectors; to achieve consensus on a draft framework for national action in the Hindu  Kush-Himalayan mountain region.

This activity report summarises the Workshop on Climate Variability and Change and their Health Effects in Pacific Island Countries, conducted in Apia, Samoa, from 25 to 28 July 2000. Proceedings, conclusions and recommendations are also included.

This activity report documents the outcomes of the Synthesis Workshop on Climate Variability, Climate Change and Health in Small-island States, Maldives, 1-4 December 2003. Specific goals of the Synthesis Workshop included inter alia: to inform health scientists, practitioners, and officials of the impacts of climate variability, and long-term climate change in the Indian Ocean, Pacific, Caribbean and other regions; to address vulnerability assessment and adaptation options for Small Island Countries; and to summarize conclusions and recommendations for common actions and activities for Small Island States and vulnerable islands in general.

This analytical report summarises the workshop Climate Variability and Change and their Health Effects on Small Island States. To understand better the potential health impacts of climate variability and change in these countries, this report synthesizes the information presented and identifies key recommendations for improving the health sector’s capacity to anticipate and prepare for climate variability and change.

This technical document presents a framework for developing disease Early Warning Systems (EWS). It reviews the degree to which individual infectious diseases are sensitive to climate variability in order to identify those diseases for which climate-informed predictions offer the greatest potential for disease control. Subsequent sections review the current state of development of EWS for specific diseases and underline some of the most important requirements for converting them into operational decision-support systems.

This technical document presents a comprehensive study of the global burden of disease attributable to Climate Change. In this chapter, the authors used existing or new models that describe observed relationships between climate variations, either over short time periods or between locations, and a series of health outcomes. These climate–health relationships were linked to alternative projections of climate change, related to unmitigated future emissions of greenhouse gases, and two alternative scenarios for greenhouse gas emissions.

This technical document provides guidance for governments, health agencies and environmental and meteorological institutions in both industrialized and developing countries on how to assess vulnerability and adaptation to climate variability. An integrated approach to assessment is encouraged because the impact of climate change is likely to transcend traditional sector and regional boundaries, with effects in one sector affecting the coping capacity of another sector or region.

This analytical report summarises the impacts of El Niño on health and the potential uses of such information. The first section provides background information on the nature of the ENSO phenomenon and the second section describes its impact on world climate in the form of weather-related disasters such as hurricanes and tropical storms, floods, drought and forest/bush fires. Section three summarises the current state of knowledge on the health impacts of El Niño. Section four addresses the potential for seasonal forecasting and section five describes some current international initiatives related to this issue.

This policy document is a comprehensive book (322 pages) that covers the context and process of global climate change, its actual or likely impacts on health, and how human societies and their governments should respond with particular focus on the health sector.

This policy document presents the contents of the 300-page First Climate and Health Task Group Report on Climate Change and Human Health outlining the state of scientific understanding of linkages. The range and seriousness of the potential health impacts of climate change mean that the risk assessment discussed in this volume constitute a very important scientific undertaking.

This policy document is a policy briefing report on the relation between climate change and health to the World Health Assembly Executive Board. Global warming will particularly threaten developing countries, with negative implications for the achievement of the health-related Millennium development Goals and for health equity. It is therefore essential to formulate a clear response in order to protect human health and ensure that it is placed at the centre of the climate debate.