Climate change and health in Israel: adaptation policies for extreme weather events
© Green et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013
Received: 31 January 2013
Accepted: 19 June 2013
Published:
Climate change and health in Israel: adaptation policies for extreme weather events
© Green et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013
Received: 31 January 2013
Accepted: 19 June 2013
Published: 27 June 2013
Climatic changes have increased the world-wide frequency of extreme weather events such as heat waves, cold spells, floods, storms and droughts. These extreme events potentially affect the health status of millions of people, increasing disease and death. Since mitigation of climate change is a long and complex process, emphasis has recently been placed on the measures required for adaptation. Although the principles underlying these measures are universal, preparedness plans and policies need to be tailored to local conditions. In this paper, we conducted a review of the literature on the possible health consequences of extreme weather events in Israel, where the conditions are characteristic of the Mediterranean region. Strong evidence indicates that the frequency and duration of several types of extreme weather events are increasing in the Mediterranean Basin, including Israel. We examined the public health policy implications for adaptation to climate change in the region, and proposed public health adaptation policy options. Preparedness for the public health impact of increased extreme weather events is still relatively limited and clear public health policies are urgently needed. These include improved early warning and monitoring systems, preparedness of the health system, educational programs and the living environment. Regional collaboration should be a priority.
Human-induced emission of greenhouse gases into the lower atmosphere is increasingly contributing to the warming of the earth's surface. There is now strong evidence for recent climatic changes. There have been significant temperature increase, more extreme weather events, sea level rise and shrinkage of most glaciers and snow cover [1, 2]. According to the UNEP, climate change "is the major, overriding environmental issue of our time, and the single greatest challenge facing environmental regulators. It is a growing crisis, and has economic, health and safety, food production, security, and other dimensions". One of the major concerns for climate change is its impact on human health.
In 2007, the Intergovernmental Program on Climate Change (IPCC) produced the fourth report on the potential health effects of climate change. The findings were summarized as follows: "Projected climate change-related exposures are likely to affect the health status of millions of people, particularly those with low adaptive capacity, through increases in malnutrition and consequent disorders, with implications for child growth and development, increased deaths, disease and injury due to heat waves, floods, storms, fires and droughts, an increased burden of diarrheal disease, an increased frequency of cardio-respiratory diseases due to higher concentrations of ground-level ozone related to climate change and an altered spatial distribution of some infectious disease vectors." Moreover, in a recent report, the IPCC (2012) stressed again that there will be an increase in the severity of adverse public health impacts in climate-related disasters such as storms, floods, heat waves, drought and wildfire.
International efforts are being made to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing the production of greenhouse gases. Despite these efforts, it is clear that climate change is already happening and cannot be prevented. Thus, comprehensive plans are necessary to ensure effective adaptation to different scenarios. The term "adaptation" refers to the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects in human systems, to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.
Due to the many uncertainties, a so-called "low-regrets" approach has been proposed. Low-regrets measures provide benefits under current climate conditions and a range of future climate change scenarios. They are useful and readily available starting points for addressing projected trends in exposure, vulnerability and climate extremes. They have the potential to offer benefits now and lay the foundation for addressing projected changes. These measures are based on directing resources of preparedness, which will have a positive impact on public health, regardless of the impact of climate change. In addition to recommending specific preparedness measures, The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for "strengthening public health systems, emergency response programs, and research around the globe". Although general guidelines for adaptation to climate change exist, preparedness plans should be tailored to the specific conditions and needs of the various regions of the world.
Climate change in the eastern mediterranean basin
Since the 1960s, the Mediterranean region has become warmer with a significant increase in the frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves. In addition, the basin is characterized by a reduction in the potable water availability as a result of decrease in the total amount of precipitation, change in rainfall patterns [5, 8], and water overuse by the growing population. In the Mediterranean basin, mutual enhancement (positive feedback) between the two conditions, droughts and heat waves, has been identified.
All of these trends have been detected in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin in general, and most, if not all, have been detected in Israel. According to the IPCC (2012), an increase in warm days and nights has been observed, in parallel with a reduction in cold days and nights. During the last few decades, the summers in Israel have become significantly warmer, with an increase in the frequency and the severity of heat waves [10, 11]. The major contributor to the rise in the mean temperature is the significa