Twenty Countries Ask EU to Prepare for Climate Change Health Hazards 

A woman stands on the edge of the Garzweiler lignite open cast mine near Luetzerath, western Germany, on November 12, 2022, as in background can be seen wind engines. (AFP)
A woman stands on the edge of the Garzweiler lignite open cast mine near Luetzerath, western Germany, on November 12, 2022, as in background can be seen wind engines. (AFP)
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Twenty Countries Ask EU to Prepare for Climate Change Health Hazards 

A woman stands on the edge of the Garzweiler lignite open cast mine near Luetzerath, western Germany, on November 12, 2022, as in background can be seen wind engines. (AFP)
A woman stands on the edge of the Garzweiler lignite open cast mine near Luetzerath, western Germany, on November 12, 2022, as in background can be seen wind engines. (AFP)

A large majority of European Union countries want stronger EU action to prepare for the health consequences of climate change and global warming's potential to spread vector-borne diseases, a document seen by Reuters showed.

Europe is experiencing severe health impacts as a result of the changing climate. Around 61,000 people are estimated to have died in sweltering European heatwaves last summer, suggesting countries' heat preparedness efforts are falling well short.

In a joint paper, 20 of the EU's 27 member countries including Croatia, Germany, Greece, Malta and the Netherlands, have urged the EU to increase its surveillance of the threats to health and healthcare systems posed by extreme weather, to help countries prepare.

The EU should also draft plans for infections of zoonotic and climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases, and strengthen its early warning and response system for if disease-spreading vectors are detected, the countries said.

"Unless proactive measures are taken, it is a matter of time before certain preventable infectious diseases, which are currently more prevalent in other regions, become increasingly common occurrences within the EU," the paper said.

It was also backed by Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia.

Climate change is increasing the risk that infectious diseases will spread into new areas - including in Europe, as summers become hotter and longer, and increased flooding creates favorable conditions for spreading infectious disease.

An example of this is the tiger mosquito, which is now present in 337 regions in Europe - more than double the number a decade ago, said the paper, which was reported earlier on Monday by the Financial Times.

EU countries' health ministers will discuss the paper in a meeting next week. The EU is currently drafting its first climate risk assessment, due to be published next year as a basis for future policies to cope with climate hazards like heatwaves and wildfires.



Saudi Arabia Joins Arab World in Celebrating 'Arab Meteorology Day'

(FILES) A picture taken on April 15, 2016 shows fishing boats moored along the coast of the Tunisian island of Kerkennah. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
(FILES) A picture taken on April 15, 2016 shows fishing boats moored along the coast of the Tunisian island of Kerkennah. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Joins Arab World in Celebrating 'Arab Meteorology Day'

(FILES) A picture taken on April 15, 2016 shows fishing boats moored along the coast of the Tunisian island of Kerkennah. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
(FILES) A picture taken on April 15, 2016 shows fishing boats moored along the coast of the Tunisian island of Kerkennah. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)

Saudi Arabia will join the Arab world on Sunday to celebrate "Arab Meteorology Day," which is held under the theme "Climate Impact and Adaptation Programs."

The day, observed annually on September 15, highlights the growing challenges faced by Arab nations to address the impact of climate change and related environmental and economic issues.

This year’s celebration aims to spotlight the collaborative Arab efforts to enhance resilience against climate change and ensure a sustainable future.

It also seeks to raise awareness about the impact of climate change, promote adaptation programs to ensure the sustainability of natural resources and infrastructure, strengthen regional cooperation among Arab countries in knowledge and expertise exchange, and support research and development in weather and climate forecasting.