Climate Change and Public Health in Europe: Impacts, Adaptation Measures, and Policy Implications
Keywords:
Climate change, public health, Europe, health adaptation, limate resilienceAbstract
Climate change is increasingly recognized as a major public health threat in Europe, affecting morbidity, mortality, and health system resilience. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, air pollution, and changing disease patterns pose complex and interconnected risks to population health. This paper reviews recent scientific evidence (2024–2025) on the health impacts of climate change in Europe and evaluates adaptation strategies aimed at protecting public health. Using a structured literature review, key health outcomes, vulnerable populations, and policy responses are analyzed. A comparative reading table summarizes major findings across recent studies. The paper highlights gaps in preparedness, emphasizes health-equity-oriented adaptation, and discusses policy implications for strengthening climate-resilient health systems in Europe.
References
i. European Environment Agency. (2024). Climate change and health impacts in Europe. EEA.
ii. Lancet Countdown Europe. (2024). Health and climate change in Europe: 2024 report. The Lancet Public Health.
iii. Nature Climate Change. (2024). Climate extremes and mental health outcomes in Europe. Nature Climate Change.
iv. Sustainability. (2025). Climate change, air quality, and respiratory health in European cities. Sustainability, 17.
v. World Health Organization Europe. (2024). Building climate-resilient health systems in the WHO European Region. WHO.
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