Public health responses to extreme weather and climate events?a brief summary of the WHO meeting on this topic in Bratislava on 9?10 February 2004

Abstract

In the last decade, the WHO European Region has been struck by various extreme weather events. The dramatic political, social, environmental and health consequences have stimulated debate on whether appropriate action can prevent the health effects of such extreme weather events. Based on our knowledge of climate change, more extreme weather and climate events will occur in the coming years, and they are likely to be more severe. International collaboration is needed to evaluate and target actions better. Many lessons have been learned from early warning and information systems. In preparation for the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Budapest in 2004, the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health of the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European Environment Agency (EEA) organized a meeting entitled “Extreme weather events and public health responses” in Bratislava, Slovakia, on 9–10 February 2004 to exchange information regarding the 2002 floodings and the 2003 heat waves as well as to develop recommendations on public health and environmental responses to climate extremes. This paper reviews the contributions from the Bratislava meeting and summarizes the policy recommendations that were developed in a working document for the Fourth Ministerial Conference. Climate variability and extremes are discussed, as are country case studies and experience with floods, heat and cold waves in various European countries; some of the lessons learned are summarized in response to extreme events.