Information from Governance Regulation reporting on adaptation (2023, 2021)

Human health is one of the 13 action areas covered in the Climate Impact and Risk Assessment 2021 (KWRA) as part of the German Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change (DAS). The results serve as a basis for improvement and development of future adaptation measures; KWRA supports the formulation of concrete adaptation measures in the next Adaptation Action Plan (APA IV, planned for 2024). In the Human health action field, KWRA 2021 investigated eight selected climate impacts: Heat stress, Allergic reactions due to plant-based aeroallergens, Potentially harmful microorganisms and algae, UV-related health damage, Distribution and change in abundance of possible vectors, Respiratory issues (due to air pollution), Injuries and deaths as a result of extreme events, and Effects on the healthcare system.

Health is also one of the action areas in APA III (2020) which describes the measures to be implemented by the ministries within their respective spheres of responsibility. APA III makes significant contributions to “heat exposure”, “UV-related damage to health” and “allergic reactions due to aeroallergens of plant origin” in the areas of education, research and monitoring, information and awareness-raising, regulations on occupational safety, and the provision of information material to specific target groups. The adaptation of the information and early warning systems also contributes to better handling of increasing heat exposure and allergens. Adaptation to the spread of possible pathogens and potentially harmful microorganisms and algae takes place through research, monitoring activities and warning or the designation of risk areas.

In the DAS monitoring 2023, 13 indicators with time series are presented in the Human health action field: Heat stress, awareness of health consequences of heat waves, heat-related deaths, exposure to birch pollen, exposure to ragweed pollen, pathogen carriers, cyanobacteria exposure of bathing waters, health hazards of vibrios, UV exposure, ozone exposure, heat warning service, information on pollen, participation in the Mosquito Atlas.

Adaptation actions and measures addressing public health include:

• Information for the wider public or for health professionals: The heat exposure associated with such events is currently one of the largest impacts on human health. Particular attention is therefore devoted to this aspect and actions adopted accordingly. These include information for the wider public or for health professionals, and developing outreach to particularly vulnerable groups of the population (e.g. the elderly, people with pre-existing conditions, children).

• Analysis and evaluation of existing heat action plans: To handle heatwaves better, it is essential to study the effects of mechanisms adopted and to use the findings to develop further actions. To this end a survey, analysis and evaluation of existing heat action plans will be carried out.

• Review of state rules on occupational safety and health: Review of existing provisions and applicable state rules on occupational safety and health with regard to heat and UV radiation, for instance, the Technical Rules for Workplaces (ASR). Furthermore, the Ordinance on Preventive Occupational Healthcare will be evaluated with regard to its thresholds for preventive checkups for occupations involving outdoor activities subject to intensive exposure to natural UV radiation.

• Integration of health and environmental monitoring: Improve the integration of health and environmental monitoring, integrated surveillance system at federal level to monitor health-related environmental factors and assign them to health impairments. Adjustment and Improvement of Information and early warning systems to match all target groups. Study of pathogenic modes of action of new pollen allergens (e.g. Ambrosia artemisiifolia). Trend analyses of imported vector-borne infectious diseases in Germany.

• Further development of risk communication: Further development of risk communication on storm-related hazards to the public will improve existing information services, e.g. on heat (here there are links to the health cluster) and heavy rain. Such services will be embedded within comprehensive risk communication strategies. Furthermore, recommendations on cooperation between spontaneous helpers and volunteer responders in extreme weather event situations will be expanded and supplemented with a compilation of examples of good practice.

Strategic cooperation between the federal government and the Federal States has also intensified in recent years. In spring 2017, for example, the Federal/Federal States Ad hoc Working Group on Adaptation to the Impacts of Climate Change in the Health Sector (GAK), led by the Federal Environment Ministry and Federal Ministry of Health, published "Recommendations for Action: Heat Action Plans to Protect Human Health". These recommendations are aimed at the local and regional authorities and are intended to serve as a basis for drawing up regional heat action plans. The objective of a heat action plan is to avoid heat- and UV-related illnesses and deaths by preventing exposure. The Ad Hoc Working Group is now established on a permanent basis to facilitate inter-agency dialogue on human health under climate change.

Information from EEA report. Climate change and health: the national policy overview in Europe (2022)

National policies on climate change adaptation and national health strategies were analysed to identify the coverage of climate-related impacts on health (physical, mental, and social) and the types of interventions addressing them. The report provides a European overview, while the geographical coverage of various aspects of national policies across Europe can be visualized using the map viewer. The results for Germany are summarised here.

Policy documents reviewed:

German Climate change adaptation strategy (2008)

2019 Monitoring Report on the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change

Second Progress Report on the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (DAS) (2020)

Climate Impact and Risk Assessment 2021 for Germany. Sub-report 5: Risks and adaptation in the thematic clusters Economy and Health

Global Health Strategy of the German Federal Government 2020

Aspects covered in the reviewed policy document:

Resources in the Observatory catalogue on Germany