Extreme weather events: What can we do to prevent health impacts?

Abstract

Extreme weather events are a problem worldwide. As has become clear during the events in 2002 and 2003, European populations are not immune. By definition, the term "extreme" refers to a departure from what is considered the norm. The extreme weather events considered in this book are meteorologic events that have a significant impact upon a local community, region and nation. Included in this definition are temperature and precipitation extremes, whose impact might be enhanced due to local conditions. How much climate extremes might become more frequent or intense over the next decades is highly uncertain. The heat wave that aff ected many parts of Europe has been seen by many as a "shape of things to come"(Beniston 2003, Schar & Jendritzky 2004). Floods vary in frequency, location and intensity as a result of seasonal and regional variations in precipitation and other weather conditions, and more long-term changes in the climate. Human activity also plays a role. Deforestation in mountainous regions accelerates runoff, thereby increasing the likelihood of flooding. Urban development on former food plains is likely to increase the magnitude of negative impacts of flooding events in the area itself, and to increase the likelihood of floods downstream due to 'canalisation' of rivers (EEA 2005). © World Health Organization 2005.