In a new report published on Wednesday 15 May, the European Environment Agency (EEA) highlights the worsening impact of climate change on floods, droughts and water quality, which poses a major threat to health throughout Europe.
This report, which follows on from the EEA’s assessment of climate risks (see EUROPE 13368/11), shows that between 1980 and 2022, 5,582 flood-related deaths were recorded in 32 European countries.
At present, 12% of Europe’s population lives in areas potentially prone to river flooding, and around 30% of people living in southern Europe face permanent water stress.
The report therefore draws the attention of governments, water authorities and healthcare providers to the urgency of implementing European legislation and integrating solutions across all sectors and levels of government to protect people’s lives and wellbeing.
“Existing European policies on climate, water and health provide a solid basis for action, but they need to be implemented more widely and more systematically”, said EEA Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen.
The EEA believes that better integration of climate change into Member States’ health policies and better coordination between national, regional and local levels, as well as increased resources and skills for adaptation to climate change, are a prerequisite for large-scale action in the EU.
The report suggests pursuing climate change mitigation efforts, reducing human exposure to existing threats in order to reduce health risks, adopting systematic implementation of preventive actions, making health systems more resilient, in particular by protecting health infrastructures from extreme climate threats, but also taking into account the mental health of populations affected by flooding and water shortages.
To see the EEA report: https://aeur.eu/f/c81 (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)