Europe


 * Climate Change and Population Movement in Europe **
 * Group Members: Mackenzie Hull, Mallory Johnson, Loan Le, Naisha Lyons, Aqueelah Maxwell **

**Europe Climate Change ** Europe has experienced major climate changes in some extreme weather events, notably extended periods of high temperatures, occurrence of droughts, and extreme rainfall events (2007b, 2008). In the 30-year period 1980-2009, large climate-related economic losses to assets and economic activities in Europe were caused by floods (25% of total losses), while in terms of fatalities, heat waves have been the most deadly natural disaster (68% of all fatal casualties associated with natural disasters) (EEA, 2010), mostly due to single heat wave events in 2003 and 2006. Forest fires in Europe are frequent and some 70,000 fires occur on average each year, also causing a considerable number of fatalities, an estimated 307 over the period 2000-2009 (EEA, 2010). Climate change in Europe is happening now: temperatures are rising, rainfall patterns are shifting, glaciers and snow are melting, and the global mean sea level is rising. Extreme weather like floods and droughts will become more frequent and intense. The impacts and vulnerabilities for nature, the economy and our health differ across regions, territories and economic sectors in Europe. The climate change will affect human health. The increase in intensity and frequency of heat waves and floods and changes in distribution of some infectious diseases and pollen impact people’s health (2013). Climate change will put pressure on ecosystems, leading to northward and uphill shifts of many plants and animal species. It will negatively impact agriculture, forestry, energy production, tourism, and infrastructure in general (2013). European regions particularly vulnerable to climate change include: (information retrieved from [] ) ** Climate Change Impacting Europe Video **
 * southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin (due to increases in heatwaves and droughts);
 * mountainous areas (due to increasing melting of snow and ice);
 * coastal zones, deltas and floodplains (due to sea level rises, and increasing intense rainfall, floods and storms);
 * Europe's far north and the Arctic (due to increasing temperatures and melting ice).

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 * Climate Change and Population Movement **

In the urban areas of Europe, people experience specific climate change challenges which differ from the experiences in the rural region. These include exacerbated heat waves, floods and water scarcity problems. While urban areas will generally be exposed to the same regional climate as the surrounding areas, the physical form and socio-economic activity of the city can alter the effect of exposure on a local scale. In southern Europe or rural area, people experience water scarcity challenges. Climate change in Europe is affecting human health by causing many risks and challenges such as food shortages and hunger, alteration of water resources and damage to physical infrastructure (particularly by sea-level rise and extreme weather events). Economic activities, human settlements and human health will experience direct and indirect effects. The poor and disadvantaged are the most vulnerable to climate change. People would migrate to different part of Europe for The European Commission (EU) has decided to consider climate change and the consequences it has on health because it is the root of numerous diseases. The European Commission had develop a blueprint for an environmental and epidemiological network to merge, integrate, and analyze data to advance the understanding of the relationship between climate change and infectious disease in Europe so they can inform the people about public health action (Christtos, et al.).

** Climate Change and Health Video **

media type="custom" key="23751536" **References ** =Christos, B., Konstantinos, D., & Ekatherina, C. (n.d). Pathogenesis and Toxins: Climate changes, environment and infection: Facts,scenarios and growing awareness from the public health community within Europe. //Anaerobe//, //17//(Cruising in the Amazing World of Microbial Ecosystems), 337-340. doi:10.1016/j.anaerobe.2011.05.016 = = = =EEA, 2010. Mapping the impacts of natural hazards and technological accidents in Europe. An overview of the last decade. European Environment Agency (EEA), Technical Report No. 13/2010, Copenhagen, Denmark. = =IPCC Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report IPCC, Geneva (2007) =

= European Environment Agency, 2013 Retrived from http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate/intro =

Tobias, L., Carlo, L., Roland, H., Alessandro, D., & Laurens M., B. (n.d). A multi-hazard regional level impact assessment for Europe combining indicators of climatic and non-climatic change. //Global Environmental Change//, //23//522-536. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2012.11.009