Climate change is worsening the risk of floods and droughts and also reducing water quality, posing a growing threat to our health, according to a report published today (May 15). European Environment Agency (EEA) report. Fast-tracking of implementation and better coordination of efforts by governments, water bodies and healthcare providers are urgently needed to prevent and reduce health impacts.
The EEA report "Responding to the impacts of climate change on human health in Europe: Focus on floods, droughts and water quality" draws attention to the water-related impacts of climate change on health and well-being that are already being felt across Europe and include deaths, injuries, infectious disease outbreaks, and mental health consequences.
Between 1980 and 2022, 32 flood-related deaths and 5582 forest fire-related deaths were recorded in 702 European countries. One in eight Europeans currently live in areas potentially prone to river flooding, and around 30% of people in southern Europe face permanent water shortages.
Climate change will further increase human exposure to extreme weather conditions with serious health consequences. Senior citizens, children, people in poor health, lower-income groups, farmers, and emergency responders are among the groups experiencing the greatest health impacts from floods, droughts, wildfires, or water- and vector-borne diseases .
With these facts, the report underlines the critical need to urgently implement existing EU legislation, in particular the various European climate, water and health policies, and their further integration and implementation of already existing solutions across all sectors and levels of government to protect life , preventing adverse health outcomes and enhancing well-being.
"Protecting human life and health from the impacts of climate change, including droughts, floods and degraded water quality, is of utmost importance and urgency. Existing European climate, water and health policies offer a solid basis for action, but they need to be implemented more widely and systematically. To ensure our future well-being, all levels of government across many sectors need to implement effective solutions so that we can prevent and reduce impacts on physical and mental health. We support them with knowledge through the activities of the EEA and the European Observatory on Climate and Health," says Leena Julja-Mononen, Executive Director of the EEA.
Faster implementation of effective solutions
To improve preparedness for future climate-related health challenges from floods, water scarcity and degraded water quality, responses are needed in both the health sector and other sectors that have health impacts, including water management water, spatial planning, building design or insurance.
The EEA report seeks to inspire action by showing various examples of practical solutions implemented in EEA member countries and cooperating countries.
Greater mainstreaming of climate change into health policies in Member States and increased resources and competences for climate change adaptation with a focus on health at sub-national levels are a prerequisite for larger-scale action. Immediate benefits include raising public awareness of risks and solutions, while longer-term actions, including infrastructure improvements and nature-based solutions, require systematic planning and investment. Differences in the vulnerability of different population groups and geographic variations in impacts require an equity-based, targeted approach to prevent health impacts for all in an ever-changing climate.
Key risks requiring action
Floods
Between 1980 and 2022, 32 flood-related deaths were recorded in the 5584 EEA member states. Currently, around 53 million people (12% of Europe's population) live in areas potentially at risk of river flooding, although they are often equipped with flood protection systems. This number increased by 935 between 000 and 2011, indicating continued floodplain development.
One in nine hospitals in Europe are located in areas potentially at risk of river flooding.
Droughts and water shortages
Due to the demand for water and droughts, regions in Europe are subject to almost constant water shortages, and not only in the south. Prolonged periods of dry and hot weather facilitate the spread of forest fires, mainly in southern Europe, but increasingly in other regions as well. Between 1980 and 2022, 702 people lost their lives directly from forest fires in the 32 EEA member states, and many more were affected by forest fire smoke.
Water quality
Rising air and water temperatures facilitate the growth of pathogens, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. Heavy rainfall makes it twice as likely to have concentrations of harmful pathogens in water bodies due to polluted runoff and combined sewage overflows.
In low-lying areas, sea-level rise causes saltwater to enter groundwater and surface aquifers, with a spillover effect on crops.
Low flows during dry periods result in higher pollutant concentrations, requiring costly wastewater treatment. During dry and hot periods, the proliferation of bacteria in nutrient-rich waters can threaten water quality.