Europe is heating faster than any other regionAnd the impact on people’s health is becoming more severe. From the increase in mortality rates to the increase in climate -related anxiety, almost all health indicators linked to weather have worsened in recent years.
In response, WHO/Europe launched a new initiative on Wednesday, the Paneuropea Commission of Climate and Health (PECCH), to address the growing threat that climate change poses for public health.
Chaired by former Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakibsdótirr, the Commission brings together 11 leading experts from all over the region responsible for delivering recommendations for processable solutions.
Mortal heat
With almost half of humanity that already lives in highly susceptible areas of climate change, A third of deaths related to the heat of the world occur in the European region.
In the 2022 and 2023 combined, more than 100,000 people in 35 countries in the European region died due to heat.
“The climatic crisis is not just an environmental emergency, it is a growing challenge of public health,” Katrín Jakobsdótir said.
“We must recognize that the interaction between increasing temperatures, air pollution and changing ecosystems resulting from humans induced climate change is already affecting the health and well -being of communities around the European region and the world,” he said.
The commission has the task of providing recommendations to reduce emissions, invest in adaptation strategies that protect health, reduce inequality and generate resilience.
Threat of growing
The climatic crisis disproportionately affects the health of the most vulnerable.
From the spread of infectious diseases to diseases related to heat and food insecurity “,”Climate change raises a serious and growing threat to human health“Andrew Haines, chief advisor to the WHO/Europe Climate Health Advisor said.
