Country profiles
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Lithuania |
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The sources used to compile the health and adaptation information for country profiles vary across countries. For EU Member States, information is based on their official adaptation reporting: 2021 adaptation reporting under the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action (see EU Adaptation Reporting, Climate-ADAPT Country Profiles) and 2019 adaptation reporting under the EU Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism Regulation. These two reporting mechanisms are together referred to here as “EU official reporting on adaptation”. Note: The relevant information has been copied from the EU official reporting on adaptation (submitted until July 21, 2021), without further elaborating the contents of the text. Some information, valid at the time of reporting, may no longer be valid today. Any necessary additions to the text are clearly highlighted. In addition, information collated in the EEA’s analysis of Climate change and health: the national policy review in Europe (2021), the Adaptation preparedness scoreboard country fiches (2018) and the WHO study on Public health and climate change adaptation policies in the European Union (2018) are presented. Note: Some information, valid at the time of publication, may no longer be valid today. Any necessary additions to the text are clearly highlighted. Information sources for non-EU member countries of the EEA are more limited. |
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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 Lithuania are summarised here.
Policy documents reviewed:
The National Strategy For Climate Change Management Policy (2012)
National Climate Change Management Agenda (2021)
Lithuanian Health Strategy (2014-2025)
Aspects covered in the reviewed policy document:
Information from EU official reporting on adaptation. GovReg reporting (2021), MMR reporting (2019)
The National Adaptation Strategy (NAS, 2012 [editors]) lays down the targets and objectives for climate change mitigation and adaptation by 2050. It is developed by the Ministry of Environment; the Ministry of Health is amongst those responsible for the implementation of the Strategy.
On 30 December 2019 Lithuania adopted a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for 2021-2030. There are 55 planned policy measures to adapt to climate change by 2030 for 9 sector-related fields of action, including public health.
Information from Adaptation preparedness scoreboard. Country fiches (2018)
The Lithuanian national risk assessment and climate vulnerability study for individual sectors were coordinated at a central level and examined sector-specific issues. A study identifying climate change threats to human health as well as independent, sub-national level vulnerability studies were sector driven, elaborating on specific threats, measures, territories and recommended assessment criteria.
Information from WHO publication. Public health and climate change adaptation policies in the European Union (2018)
Horizontal and vertical coordination of mitigation and adaptation policy implementation is ensured through the work of the National Climate Change Committee. Furthermore, the focal point for climate change and health is a director of the Centre for Health Education and Disease Prevention, which is the national health system’s public health institution and works under the Ministry of Health.
A study identifying climate change threats to human health in Lithuania was carried out in 2014. The main vulnerabilities and health effects identified were allergic diseases, tick-borne diseases, UV radiation, air pollution, extreme heat, sudden frost, floods and impacts from extreme weather events. The study also developed recommendations on adaptation to climate change. Existing vaccination practices are being assessed and the introduction of additional vaccines discussed.
In 2015, climate change and health indicators (morbidity of Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis and spread of Ixodes ricinus) were included in the list of environment and health indicators. A climate change-related disease (both allergic and infectious) prevention programme was adopted by order of the Minister of Health to improve management of morbidity of such diseases. It is orientated towards public health professionals, state agency personnel, policymakers, health care providers, vulnerable population groups and the general public and focuses on human health risks associated with climate change.
WHO case studies from publication. Public health and climate change adaptation policies in the European Union (2018)
A national public health and heat prevention action plan for 2016-2020
A national public health and heat prevention action plan for 2016-2020 was adopted in 2015 by order of the Minister of Health. Its main aims are to raise awareness of heat-related health risks and their prevention among the public, health professionals and teachers; to provide early warnings of heatwaves together with health advice; and to mobilise and coordinate all available resources in a timely manner. The first assessment of the plan will take place in 2020. Its implementation is in line with WHO’s European Regional Framework for Action, which aims to protect health from climate change, and the intention is to make it part of the country’s national portfolio for action, to which it committed at the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Ostrava in 2017.