CLIMATE CHANGE IS affecting all regions in Europe, causing a wide range of impacts on human health and society according to a report published by the European Environment Agency.

The report, published yesterday, says climate change is leading to increased risk of transmission of certain diseases and contributes to thousands of premature deaths in Europe.

It’s main health effects are related to extreme weather events and heat related impacts but there are also changes in the distribution of climate sensitive diseases and environmental and social conditions.

Floods, extreme temperatures and air pollution are all factors affecting human health cited in the report and it projects that these problems are likely to increase in the future.

Climate change is projected to increase the risk of flood and water borne diseases in many parts of Europe and increased temperatures could increase the risk of salmonelleosis, the report said.

According to the report, there is a lack of sufficient observations of impacts of climate change on human health and said on-going and planned EU funded research is expected to improve this situation.