Health effects of extreme high temperatures

The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly clear, and the impact of high temperatures is felt universally. AirClim has co-published a report about the health effects of extreme high temperatures. The objective is to give a concise summary of heat-related health effects, the most vulnerable populations, the regions that are most exposed to extreme heat, and different future scenarios of global warming.

It stresses that without action, a very different future awaits many of us. In some regions around the world the rising temperatures will result in summers with even more frequent and severe heatwaves and limitations on what today are seen as normal outdoor activities. In other regions, populations risk facing year-round deadly heat if no mitigation efforts are put in place, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The effects of anthropogenic climate change are already noticeable, as global warming of around 1°C has generated an increase in heat-related morbidity and mortality around the world. The most affected populations are those that are already marginalised, with limited access to adaptive capacities to cope with temperature rises.

To protect planetary and human health as much as possible it is vital to act – urgently. Keeping global warming at 1.5°C would reduce climate hazards and health risks, but cannot eliminate them all. Hence it is, even in the best future scenario, necessary to prepare for increased exposure to extreme heat. At the current pace of global decarbonisation we are, however, unlikely to meet the Paris Agreement ambitions to keep global warming well below 2°C. Instead, we are heading towards a future that endangers the health of us all. Nevertheless, there is still time to change direction – there is still time to act.

Hanna Slogén

Link to briefing: https://www.airclim.org/sites/default/files/documents/extreme-temperatur...

In this issue

Greater efforts to improve EU air quality needed

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Editorial: Air pollution exposure will remain unacceptably high

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Nitrogen ruling puts Dutch CCS project on hold

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Ways through the rare earth element bottleneck

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Climate change will worsen air quality

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The remaining global carbon budget leaves little headroom for Europe

As the world fails to reduce emissions fast enough, the remaining carbon budget is shrinking rapidly, as shown by recent studies on carbon budgets for Germany and for Europe.

Richest 1% of the world responsible for 17% of emissions

New analysis taking into account rich people’s consumption behaviour as well as their investment decisions shows a widening gap in responsibility for the climate crisis between rich and poor

Health effects of extreme high temperatures

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Air pollution can damage children for life

Exposure to air pollution can prevent children's organs from developing to full capacity, since they have more sensitive lungs and immature immune systems.

Proposal to integrate maritime transport in the EU ETS

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EU must phase-out coal and gas and promote plant-rich diets to deliver on methane

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Whole of Europe must do more to align with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target

New scientific report presents technically feasible, 1.5°C compatible energy and emissions pathways for the group of 46 countries that make up the whole of Europe.

The higher the energy efficiency target, the greater the benefits

A new report by Cambridge Econometrics quantifies the benefits resulting from higher levels of ambition for the 2030 energy efficiency target.

Regulating the most polluting livestock farms is justified

Revising the Industrial Emissions Directive to include cattle and lower the size threshold to 150 Livestock Units will only affect 13% of the EU’s largest commercial farms.

EU must reform the ETS to make it an effective instrument

The Oeko-Institut suggests a number of technical measures that could be used to strengthen the EU ETS in the coming years.

European research infrastructures for climate change and air pollution policies

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Main menu

Health effects of extreme high temperatures

In this issue

Greater efforts to improve EU air quality needed

Editorial: Air pollution exposure will remain unacceptably high

Nitrogen ruling puts Dutch CCS project on hold

Ways through the rare earth element bottleneck

Climate change will worsen air quality

The remaining global carbon budget leaves little headroom for Europe

Richest 1% of the world responsible for 17% of emissions

Health effects of extreme high temperatures

Air pollution can damage children for life

Proposal to integrate maritime transport in the EU ETS

EU must phase-out coal and gas and promote plant-rich diets to deliver on methane

Whole of Europe must do more to align with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target

The higher the energy efficiency target, the greater the benefits

Regulating the most polluting livestock farms is justified

EU must reform the ETS to make it an effective instrument

European research infrastructures for climate change and air pollution policies

Publications

Food for Thought

Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

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