How Climate Change is Affecting Europe's Health: 3 Key Graphics

Global warming is causing more deaths, worsening health inequalities, and spreading disease-carrying ticks and parasites across Europe, according to a comprehensive report. The study found that heat-related deaths have increased, especially among women and older people, and that warmer temperatures are allowing harmful parasites and ticks to thrive in new areas. The research underscores the urgent need for drastic action to protect public health from the impacts of climate change.

Key Insights

• Insight 1: Rising Temperatures Increase Health Risks
  The report found that heat-related deaths in Europe have increased significantly, with an average rise of 17 deaths per 100,000 people from 2003-2012 to 2013-2022. Women are particularly vulnerable due to physiological differences and the fact that they generally live longer than men, making them more susceptible to heat stress.

• Insight 2: Spread of Disease-Carrying Parasites
  Warmer temperatures are allowing disease-carrying parasites like sandflies and ticks to expand into new regions in Europe. This has led to an increase in diseases such as Leishmaniasis and Lyme disease, which can cause severe health issues ranging from skin ulcers to neurological complications.

• Insight 3: Need for Holistic Climate-Health Research
  The report emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to studying the health impacts of climate change. It highlights a gap in research focusing on how climate change disproportionately affects different populations, stressing the need for more studies on equality, equity, and justice in climate health research.