The list of selected WHO publications is followed by articles and bibliographic references.
 | Improving public health responses to extreme weather/heat-waves (2009) | |
| Summary for policy-makers | ||
| Improving public health responses to extreme weather/heat-waves (2009) | |
| Technical summary | ||
| Impacts of Europe’s changing climate (2008) [external link] | |
| This report, jointly produced by the European Environment Agency, WHO/Europe and the Joint Research Centre, underlines, through about 40 indicators, the consequences of observed and projected changes, including an increased risk of floods and droughts, losses of biodiversity (marine, freshwater and terrestrial), adverse effects on human health, and damage to economic sectors. | ||
| Heat-health action plans - Guidance (2008) | |
| This guidebook describes the recommended elements of heat-health action plans in detail and gives examples from existing heat-health action plans in Europe. Member States are invited to consult it to develop or improve heat-health action plans tailored to their individual system and context | ||
| Protecting health in Europe from climate change (2008) | |
| This publication draws decision-makers’ attention to convincing evidence of climate-related health threats and to why and how they should be urgently addressed. It describes current and projected health effects and the challenges they present to health systems in the European Region, as well as practical guidance on action by individuals and countries | ||
| Environment and health risks from climate change and variability in Italy (2007) [pdf, 4MB] | |
| This report, a result of a collaboration between WHO/Europe and the Italian Agency for Environmental Protection and Technical Services (APAT), is a preliminary evaluation of the situation based on international and national literature and benefitting from expert advice. By assessing the potential risks of climate change to human health in Italy, it seeks to identify available adaptive and preventive measures and to suggest additional ones. | ||
| Towards health security (2007) | |
| A discussion paper on recent health crises in the WHO European Region | ||
| Environmental change and infectious diseases (2007) | |
| Report of a joint ECDC/WHO/EEA/JRC workshop held in Stockholm, Sweden, 29-30 March 2007 | ||
| Lyme borreliosis in Europe: influences of climate and climate change, epidemiology, ecology and adaptation measures (2006) [pdf, 1MB] | |
| Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common vector-borne disease in Europe, caused by a bacterium which is transmitted to humans by ticks. As ticks are highly sensitive to changes in seasonal climate, climate-induced changes can influence human exposure to infected ticks and thus disease prevalence. Future climate change in Europe will facilitate a spread of LB into higher latitudes and altitudes, contributing to increased disease occurrence in endemic areas, while LB will disappear in areas that will become too hot and dry for tick survival | ||
| Climate change and adaptation strategies for human health (2005) | |
| This book presents the full results of a three-year European collaborative project on climate change and adaptation strategies for human health (cCASHh) | ||
| Health and climate change: the now and how. A policy action guide (2005) | |
| A brief summary of the results of the research project "climate change and adaptation strategies for human health" (cCASHh), coordinated by WHO and supported by the European Commission. cCASHh identified a range of options that have been taken or could be taken by European policy-makers to prevent, prepare and respond to the effects of weather and climate variability on peoples health | ||
| Extreme weather events and public health responses (2005) | |
| Case studies, research and experiences on the health impacts of these recent events collated in this book show the efforts being made by the public health and environment communities to evaluate the effectiveness of the responses to the crises, to assess the early warning systems in place, and to use the lessons learnt to better tailor future activities | ||
| Heat-waves: risks and responses (2004) | |
| This book reviews current knowledge about the effects of heat-waves, includes recommendations for preventive action and identifies measures for reducing heat-related mortality and morbidity such as heat health warning systems and appropriate urban planning and housing design. | ||
| Methods of assessing human health vulnerability and public health adaptation to climate change (2003) | |
| This joint WHO/WMO/UNEP/Health Canada publication targets governments, agencies and institutions of both industrialized and developing countries. Climate change does not cause novel environmental exposures, but may exacerbate the burden of climate-sensitive diseases, depending on the implementation of timely and effective interventions. The book includes examples of appropriate and effective adaptation strategies, policies and measures. | ||
| Climate change and human health - risks and responses (2003) | |
| This volume seeks to describe the context and process of global climate change, its actual or likely impacts on health, and how human societies and their governments should respond, with particular focus on the health sector. A summary is also available. | ||
| Planet Earth, getting too hot for health? (2001) [WHO headquarters] | |
| Global warming (an increase in the average temperature of the planet because of human activities that are raising greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere) will present public health officials worldwide with an unprecedented challenge, if scientists who study the issue are right. In: Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2001, 79 (11) | ||
| The health impacts of desertification and drought (2000) [external link] | |
| A review of the potential health effects of desertification and drought. In: UNCCD Newsletter no. 14 pages 4-6 (available in English and in Français). | ||
| Climate change and human health: impact and adaptation (2000) [external link] | |
| A general description of the health impacts of climate change and possible adaptation measures | ||
| Articles and bibliographic references | |
