ENBEL briefing: Climate change, wildfires and human health
Description
Wildfires and air pollution related to wildfire smoke have an impact on our health. In this policy brief, ENBEL, a European project aimed at connecting health and climate change research, summarises new evidence on how climate change will increase the health risks from wildfires across the world. Wildfire pollutants are highly toxic and contribute to respiratory, cardiovascular, and pregnancy-related health effects, increasing premature deaths. In the last two decades, exposure to wildfire particulate matter (PM2.5) increased by 60% globally, and by 40% over Europe. Since smoke from wildfires can be transported over long distances, fires can affect large populations, also at long distances from its source.
ENBEL's policy briefs can be consulted at their website.
Reference information
Source:
The ENBEL project supports EU policy making by bringing together leaders in climate change and health research through a network of major international health and climate research projects under the Belmont Forum’s Collaborative Research Action (CRA), Societal Challenge 1 and 5 of EU’s Horizon 2020, and other national and international funding schemes. This network develops evidence syntheses and co-produces with stakeholders a series of tailor-made knowledge products. The key thematic focus is on environmental and occupational heat, air pollution (including from wildfires) and climate-sensitive infectious diseases, with specific attention given to high-risk groups and populations.
Published in Climate-ADAPT Jan 16 2024 - Last Modified in Climate-ADAPT Apr 04 2024